We have strong opinions on the following:
Barack Obama - Genius and Gimleteye
Joe Garcia - Genius and Gimleteye
Harvey Ruvin for Miami Dade County Clerk - Genius and Gimleteye
County Amendment Raising Commissioners Salaries - NO Genius, YES Gimleteye
County Uniform Fire Rescue Service (cities can't offer services) - NO Genius and Gimleteye
Amendments to the State Constitution
One: Yes. Removes outdated and discriminatory language relating to Property Rights/Ineligible Aliens
Two: NO. Another attempt to insert the state in the affairs of the individual and legislate morality-- "Florida Marriage Protection Act."
Three: Yes. Under this provision, home improvements to foster renewable energy would not be included in value for assessment purposes.
Four: Yes. Property tax exemption of perpetually conserved land saves taxpayers and encourages preservation of farmland and open space.
Six: Yes. Assessment of working waterfront property would be based on current value and not on what the properties would be worth if converted to condos or other development.
Eight: Yes Gimleteye No Genius. This measure allows voters, every five years, to vote on an increase in the local sales tax to provide increased funding for community colleges.
IMPORTANT NOTE: On the amendment that should have been on this year's ballot: Florida Hometown Democracy. The FHD proposal to amend the Florida constitution is the only grass-roots effort that addresses the disaster of growth management in Florida. Collusion by powerful economic interests with local supervisor of election offices in critical counties like Miami Dade conspired to keep the FHD amendment off the November state wide ballot, despite the fact that community and civic activists had collected the required number of signatures. Repeated challenges in court obstructed the measure from being considered in a timely manner. This week, the state supervisor of election website showed that enough valid signatures have been recorded to qualify. Be aware that you have been deprived of the single chance to vote on the role of growth mismanagement and the economic crisis.
6 comments:
if we vote to tax ourselves to fund community colleges what is to stop the legislature from taking even more money from them? Won't we be giving them an open door to do that at our expense?
When studying this proposal, I realized that our taxes go to Tallahassee, and then they decide where and how it's spent. So, we pay a large portion of the taxes, and then it is divided the way Tallahassee sees fit. If this passes, then the taxes for our community college will stay with our community college, not the smaller colleges that need taxpayer dollars. So, if you want you taxes spent locally, than vote yes. If you want your taxes spent evenly with all the other community colleges, then vote no.
At the moment, I would prefer my money stay here. If someone thinks that my thinking is screwed up, please let me know. I haven't voted yet and this is the only thing I can come up with.
I am a bleeding heart liberal and have always voted for every ballot issue for education over forty years and in the three states.
A great aunt in Michigan (the home state of the Mott foundation which I believe first created Community Colleges) donated her 120 acre farm for the construction of a community college in the late 60's. I hold teaching certificates in Michigan and Florida. I value all levels of education.
The good people of Miami-Dade and of Florida should not be forced to vote for additional regressive sales tax dollars for much needed education if the Republican controlled legislature in Tallahassee really cared about properly funding education in the communities they are to represent.
All the legislature has to do is collect sales taxes on the hundreds of businesses's which pay nothing, businesses which are exempt for sales tax. Studies show there would be plenty of money for education and other services if sales taxes were collected on more goods and services which typically are consumed by wealthier people..
Vote NO on Eight and call your state representative and senator and tell them to eliminate the hundreds of sales tax loop holes!
RE: #8... all this does is create an unequal Community College system. Smaller counties would not have the tax base to support their local colleges to the level of the larger counties. North Armpit Community College wouldn't be able to provide a similar education program as Miami-Dade College, diminishing the value of a degree from North Armpit, further alienating the smaller counties in Florida.
Yes, equal education is a concern, but this is mine. Tallahassee decides where the money goes. For instance, when considering which school of education would get the program for teachers of deaf students, they chose U of F. Was this the right choice? Well, how large is the deaf population of Gainseville (these students have to do field work) compared to the deaf population that surrounds a more urban university. So, off our tax dollars go to support a decision made by politicians and lobbyists instead of what is the best choice for the program. In this economy, wouldn't it be best that the tax dollars that we pay stay with us? Can we trust Tallahassee to make these decisions?
Yes, its true that there would be tons of money for education, but then again, isn't that money and how it is allocated also being controlled in Tallahassee? It's hard for me to look to the needs in North Armpit and think, well, at least someone somewhere is getting a good education. When my property taxes and cost of living equal those in North Armpit, then I will be happy to look the other way when they send my tax dollars there.
I voted for the community college issue because I see it as an investment. One that will pay off in the future.
I voted absentee, and I am delighted to see that the Elections Department has a tracking system on-line where you can track your ballot once you have mailed it in. You simply put your name in the box on their website and bingo, your information comes up and lets you know whether they have recieved and recorded your ballot!
You can still vote absentee up to a certain date. Everyone should vote, there is no excuse... Absentee, early voting, or election day take your choice.
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