‘Hometown Democracy’ wins court ruling
A Fla. Supreme Court decision clears the way for a 2010 ballot question: Should voters approve all comprehensive land use changes?
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Hometown Democracy opponents align to fight unwieldy amendment
Hundreds of Florida groups, including FAR, have joined together to continue to oppose the proposed Hometown Democracy amendment, which would disallow any land use change unless a majority of citizens voted for it.
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Initiatives and most candidates backed by FAR win their races
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nov. 5, 2008 – All Florida Senate candidates backed by the Florida Association of Realtors’ Political Action Committee (RPAC) won their respective seats. In the Florida House, 94 percent of RPAC-supported candidates won. Two races remain very close and are subject to a recount (District 9, Peter Boulware, and District 11, Debbie Boyd).
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Your vote counts: 2008 General Election details
Get online voter registration links, information about this year’s Constitutional Amendments and links to learn more about the issues supported by both Presidential candidates.
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FAR elects 2009 officers
ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 29, 2008 – Wendell Davis, a broker with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville, has been named the 2009 president-elect of the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the state's largest professional association. The election took place last week during FAR’s Annual Convention & Trade Expo in Orlando.
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Florida Supreme Court: Amendment 5 off November ballot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sept. 3, 2008 – Amendment 5 – the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR)-backed constitutional amendment that would lower property taxes statewide by 25 percent to 40 percent, depending on where you live – could be stricken from the ballot if the Supreme Court decides that the ballot language is not clear or there is a technical problem.
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APPEALING APPEAL
The state has filed an appeal of a lower court decision to remove Amendment 5 – the comprehensive property tax amendment that would reduce tax liabilities by 25 percent up to 40 percent depending on where you live – from the November ballot.
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Amendment 5 still on November ballot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Aug. 20, 2008 – Amendment 5, Florida’s proposed constitutional amendment that would lower property taxes by 25 percent up to 40 percent depending on where you live, will remain on the November ballot pending a decision by the Florida Supreme Court, which is expected in early September.
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Circuit judge bumps Amendment 5 from Florida ballot – appeal certain
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Aug. 14, 2008 – Judge John C. Cooper of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court ruled this afternoon that Amendment 5’s property tax reform initiative be struck from the November ballot, calling the ballot summary misleading to voters. The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) expressed disappointment, but the association looks forward to a favorable ruling in the District Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court.
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Judge hears challenge to Amendment 5 and will issue ruling soon
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Aug. 13, 2008 – Opponents of Amendment 5 had their day in court, but the Second Judicial Circuit Court will not issue his decision until later today or tomorrow. However, both sides consider it likely that the Florida Supreme Court will eventually make the final ruling.
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Amendment 5 to have its day in court
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 17, 2008 – If Florida voters pass Amendment 5 in November, property taxes will drop by 25-40 percent, but the amendment must first face a court challenge. A Tallahassee judge will hear arguments on Aug. 13, and the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), which supports the amendment, anticipates a favorable ruling.
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Crist announces support for Amendment 5 property tax reform
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Aug. 5, 2008 – The property tax reform amendment advocated by FAR has a new backer – Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Concerned about the Florida economy, Crist offered his first full endorsement yesterday, and says he will stump for passage.
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Judge hears Fla. planning amendment case 080708
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Aug. 7, 2008 – Supporters of a proposed Florida constitutional amendment requiring voters to approve changes in local growth management plans told a federal judge Wednesday that a host of discrepancies and problems improperly blocked the measure from the November ballot.
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Florida’s local governments face new requirements if they want to raise taxes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – June 9, 2008 – Contrary to popular opinion, city and county governments cannot easily raise tax rates to make up for any income deficit created by January’s passage of Amendment 1. A local tax increase now requires approval by a super-majority of officials, and it must be called a “tax increase” if considered.
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Panel sends competing property tax cut plan to full commission
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – March 7, 2008 – A second major property tax-cutting proposal advanced Thursday in a commission that proposes state constitutional amendments, but only one is likely to go on the November ballot.
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Panel stalls sales tax on services
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Feb. 13, 2008 – A threat to tax services in Florida, which could have included Realtors’ commissions, faltered yesterday and could be dead after almost unanimous opposition from businesses, including a call-to-action issued by the Florida Association of Realtors ® (FAR) and an economist’s testimony that it would cost 53,000 Florida jobs. A final decision will be made later this month.
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Hometown Democracy fails to make it onto November ballot
TALLAHASEE, Fla. – Feb. 4, 2008 – The proposed Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment did not get enough voter signatures by its Friday deadline to make it onto the November 2008 ballot. But supporters say it will be back in 2010 and, given the number of signatures still needed, they’re probably right.
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Voters say ‘Yes on 1’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Jan. 30, 2008 –Realtors around the state expect buyers and sellers’ pent up demand to generate an immediate increase in home sales following passage yesterday of Amendment 1, which allows buyers to take their Save Our Homes tax savings with them when they move.
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Governor to Realtors: You’re about to make history
ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 25, 2008 – With green and orange “Vote Yes On 1” signs raised high, Florida Realtors greeted Gov. Charlie Crist this morning with a standing ovation, thanking Crist for his efforts to cut property taxes. The governor addressed Realtors attending the Florida Association of Realtors®’ (FAR) Mid-Winter Business Meetings in Orlando.
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Hometown Democracy probably won’t appear on ballot in November
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Jan. 15, 2008 – The proposed Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment, which would make it more difficult to approve zoning changes, doesn’t have enough signatures yet to make it onto the November ballot. Only two weeks remain until the submission deadline.
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Crist continues to advocate passage of Amendment 1
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Jan. 14, 2008 – Governor Charlie Crist will spend a lot of time this week advocating passage of Amendment 1, the property tax reform proposal voters will consider on Jan. 29. The governor continues to visit families who will benefit from passage, and plans a promotional bus tour around the state on Wednesday.
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PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT
“Yes on 1—Save our Homes NOW,” the FAR-supported campaign that advocates passage of the property tax amendment going before voters in January, recently unveiled a new Web commercial highlighting Orlando residents Keith and Elizabeth Markowitz.
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Florida Realtors continue efforts to support ‘Yes on 1’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Dec. 20, 2007 – With the possibility of a tax break for businesses, some of Florida’s top real estate brokers and members of the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) joined Gov. Charlie Crist in Tallahassee yesterday afternoon as a show of support for the property tax relief constitutional amendment voters will consider during the state’s primary election on January 29.
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HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY AMENDMENT AMENDMENT
A Nov. 8 forum held by the University of South Florida’s Institute for Public Policy and Leadership focused on proposed amendments to the state’s constitution. Hometown Democracy has proposed a constitutional amendment that would give voters a say in every amendment to a city or county’s comprehensive plan.
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UF survey: Floridians not entirely sold on new property tax measure
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aug. 22, 2007 – In January, Florida voters will consider amending the Florida Constitution to correct existing problems in the collection of property taxes – a change advocated by the Florida Association of Realtors®. According to the study, the amendment’s fate is “too close to call.”
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Group hopes to defeat Hometown Democracy by revoking signatures
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Aug. 1, 2007 – A recently approved law allows voters to rescind their signature from a proposed citizens constitutional amendment should they have second thoughts. One state business group hopes to use that power to keep the Hometown Democracy proposed amendment off the ballot.
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Realtors note advantages to tax reform’s special session
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – May 3, 2007 – Realtors want property tax reform as soon as possible – yesterday would have been great – but they also want it done right, and a one-month waiting period leading to a special session of the Florida Legislature gives lawmakers time to consider the complicated issue. It also gives Realtors an opportunity to meet their lawmakers locally and push for positive and substantial change. Everyone agrees that it’s important to get it right the first time, notably since some changes would have to go to voters as a proposed constitutional amendment.
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Florida Supreme Court strikes two FAIR amendments
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 23, 2007 – Former Florida Senate President John McKay cannot be faulted for a lack of commitment in his attempts to tack a sales tax onto services. But his latest effort, opposed by a coalition of 27 business interests that includes the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), ended yesterday in the Florida Supreme Court. |
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