Community Forum Addresses Ballot Issues

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Commissioner Santamaria suggested filling out a sample ballot beforehand and taking it with you to the polls.

Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron uses a map of Florida House districts in Palm Beach County to explain Amendment No. 5.

 

Commissioner Jess Santamaria held his monthly community forum on Oct. 20 at the original Wellington Mall. The discussion topics were the constitutional amendments, questions and referendums appearing on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron went over each ballot item, explaining the language and what a yes or no vote means. He also took a series of questions from the audience. The presentation was purely informational with no positions, opinions or advice offered.

The nine ballot issues are:

• Amendment No. 1: Repeal of the public financing of statewide candidates who agree to spending limits
• Amendment No. 2: An additional homestead property tax exemption for deployed U.S. military personnel
• Amendment No. 4: Voter approval required for adoption and amendment of local comprehensive land-use plans
• Amendment No. 5: Amends the current practice of drawing legislative district boundaries
• Amendment No. 6: Amends the current practice of drawing congressional district boundaries
• Amendment No. 8: Changes the current "maximum" class sizes to school-wide "average" class sizes
  (Note: Amendments No. 3, 7 and 9 were removed from the ballot.)
• Federal Budget Question: Nonbinding statewide advisory referendum asks whether the U.S. Constitution should be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes.
• Palm Beach County Question: Requires the Board of County Commissioners to establish a county Code of Ethics, an independent Ethics Commission funded by the BCC, and an independent Inspector General funded by the BCC.
• School District Referendum: Asks whether to continue a .25 mill ad valorem levy for school operational needs for teachers, music, arts, physical education, career and academic programs.

Commissioner Santamaria said he was impressed by the thoughtful questions posed by audience members and urged everyone to study the material carefully before voting.