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Vote No on Amendment 4

July 28th, 2010 · Leave a Comment

November is nearing and that means it will soon be time to vote on a number of issues affecting Northeast Florida, one of which is the vote on Amendment 4, otherwise known as Hometown Democracy or the “Vote on Everything” bill. To give our readers an update on Amendment 4, we have turned to the Vote No on 4 site, which is recognized by hundreds of credible organizations throughout the state as an informative, educational tool for voters.

Here is a brief glimpse of what Amendment 4 is and what it will mean for Florida citizens, as seen on the Vote No on 4 website. To learn more about Amendment 4 and what devastating effects it would have on Florida, visit www.florida2010.org. You can also check out some great videos about Amendment 4 at www.florida2010.org/videos.

What is Amendment 4?

Amendment 4 is a proposed amendment of Florida’s constitution that would require taxpayer-funded referenda on all changes to local government comprehensive plans. In other words, this “Vote on Everything” amendment would force Floridians – not the representatives they elect – to decide hundreds of technical comprehensive plan changes each year.

Would Amendment 4 have an effect on the Florida economy?

Yes, in these tough times, the Vote on Everything amendment would cause Florida’s economy to permanently collapse. If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4. According to a study conducted by The Washington Economics Group, Amendment 4 will reduce Florida’s economic output by $34 billion annually. Given Florida’s precarious economic climate, that is the last thing the state needs.

Will Amendment 4 affect Florida jobs?

Yes. Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation puts Florida’s jobless rate at 12 percent. However, Amendment 4 would drive it even higher. A study by The Washington Economics Group says Amendment 4 will likely cost Florida 267,247 jobs.

What are the costs associated with Amendment 4?

Amendment 4 means higher property taxes and higher costs for all of Florida’s working families. Under Amendment 4, local governments – city and county – would be required to hold expensive referenda on hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of amendments every year. Voters will be asked to vote not only on big development projects but also on all minor or technical changes to their local comprehensive plan. In the last four years alone, this would have meant over 10,000 costly elections across the state of Florida – and more elections require more tax dollars to pay for them.

Learn more about Amendment 4 on www.florida2010.org and let us know your thoughts below in our comment section.

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