CLAY COUNTY – There are seven state and local amendments on the General Election ballot on Nov. 3 and trying to pour through the legal talk often can be as difficult as reading Swedish instructions for building a home entertainment center.
While this doesn’t pick sides in any of the decisions, it’s essential to understand, in layman’s terms, what we are asked to decide. Some of the amendments are easy to understand. Others aren’t. So here’s a simple explanation of each amendment.

Amendment 1
What the ballot says: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2023, to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit the consideration of any change or improvement made to real property used for residential purposes to improve the property’s resistance to flood damage in determining the assessed value of such property for ad valorem purposes.
The skinny: Prohibits flood resistance improvements to a home from being considered when determining the property’s assessed value for property taxes.
What it means: If passed by 60% of the voters, homeowners can’t add the cost of fortifying a home against flooding to the value of the house. For example, if a homeowner adds a $50,000 seawall to a house worth $100,000, the value of the house is still worth $100,000, not $150,000

Amendment 2

What the ballot says: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals and is scheduled to next convene in 2037, as a method of submitting proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to electors of the state for approval. The amendment does not affect the ability to revise the State Constitution through citizen initiative, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or legislative joint resolution.
The skinny: It abolishes the Constitution Revision Commission.
What it means: If approved by 60% of the voters, the commission comprised of 37 members can no longer take proposals from the public and place them directly on the general election ballot. Voters opposed to the commission believe there already are two ways to get an issue placed on the ballot – it can be done by collecting enough signatures to create an inititiave or through the Legislature – so there’s no need for a third option. Those who favor the commission said it provides citizens with a greater voice.

Amendment 3

What the ballot says: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grand additional homestead tax exemption for non-school levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of the homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect on January 1, 2023.
The skinny: It provides additional Homestead Property Tax exemption for certain public service workers.
What it means: If approved by 60% of the voters, homeowners in the listed professions will get an extra $25,000 in tax exemptions for homes valued between $50,000 and $75,000, while the exemptions increase to $50,000 for homes valued between $100,000 and $150,000.

Amendment 4

What the ballot says: Shall the Clay County Charter Article II, Section 2.2.C, be amended to include an annual cost of living increase to the current $37,000 per year salaries of the Clay County Commissioners, based upon the Federal Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, effective Sept. 30, 2023 and thereafter adjusting annually for inflation?
The skinny: Should county commissioners get cost of living increases to their salaries?
What it means: If approved, county commissioners will be eligible for cost-of-living pay increases based on the Federal Consumer Price Index.

Amendment 5

What the ballot says: Shall the Clay County Charter Article III, Section 3.1 be amended to remove existing term limits of three consecutive four-year terms, for Constitutional Offices in Clay County Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Supervisor of Elections, following the November 2022 General Election?
The skinny: Should term limits for high-ranking government be eliminated?
What it means: If approved, officials no longer will “term out.” That means as long as the electorate keep voting them in, they can stay in office as long as they want.

Amendment 6

What the ballot says: Shall the Clay County Charter Article IV, Section 4.2.B, be amended to change the appointment of the Charter Review Commission from every four years to every eight years following the November 2022 General Election?
The skinny: Should the commission created to review the county’s laws and government structures meet every eight years instead of every four years?
What it means: If approved, the 18-person panel that reviews the county laws and processes will meet every eight years instead of every four years. Much like the state’s amendment on the Constitution Revision Commission, voters need to decide whether they really need three avenues to place initiatives on the ballot.

Amendment 7

What the ballot says: Shall an additional one (1) mill of ad volorem millage tax, proportionately shared between charter and non-charter Clay district public schools based upon each charter school’s proportional share of the district’s total unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment, be approved to fund safety and security for district public school students and staff, and to provide operating expenses of the district, beginning July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2027?
The skinny: Sould taxpayers continue to pay the one mill ad volorem tax for school safety?
What it means: Taxpayers already are paying this tax, so a vote yes means you want to continue to provide funds for mandated school security.