HJR 385

1	House Joint Resolution
2	A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 9 of
3	Article VII of the State Constitution to provide a
4	limitation on the amount of the combined ad valorem taxes
5	that may be collected on parcels of real property, require
6	the Legislature to provide for distribution of revenues
7	collected in excess of the limitation, and provide
8	exceptions for ad valorem taxes levied for payment of
9	certain bonds.
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11	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13	That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article VII of
14	the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
15	the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
16	general election or at an earlier special election specifically
17	authorized by law for that purpose:
18	ARTICLE VII
19	FINANCE AND TAXATION
20	SECTION 9.  Local taxes.--
21	(a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
22	and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
23	valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
24	taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
25	intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this
26	constitution.
27	(b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
28	payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
29	two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
30	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
31	shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
32	assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property:
33	for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
34	ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
35	management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
36	west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
37	for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
38	state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
39	authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
40	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
41	county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
42	authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
43	for municipal purposes.
44	(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
45	constitution, the maximum amount of all ad valorem taxes
46	collected by counties, municipalities, school districts, and
47	special districts on any parcel of real property shall not, when
48	combined, exceed one and thirty-five hundredths percent (1.35%)
49	of the parcel's highest taxable value. For purposes of this
50	subsection, the term "taxable value" means the value of real
51	property to which millage rates are applied. By general law, the
52	legislature shall provide for the distribution of tax revenues
53	derived from parcels for which combined ad valorem tax levies
54	exceed one and thirty-five hundredths percent (1.35%) of the
55	parcel's highest taxable value. This subsection does not apply
56	to ad valorem taxes levied for the payment of bonds issued
57	pursuant to Section 12 of this Article or levied for periods not
58	longer than two years when authorized by a vote of the electors.
59	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
60	placed on the ballot:
61	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
62	ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9
63	LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE AD VALOREM TAXES ON REAL
64	PROPERTY.--Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to
65	limit the total aggregate ad valorem taxes levied by counties,
66	municipalities, school districts, and special districts on any
67	parcel of real property to 1.35 percent of the highest taxable
68	value of the property; require the Legislature to provide by
69	general law for distribution of revenues collected on parcels
70	that exceed the 1.35-percent limitation; and apply the
71	limitation to all property taxes except ad valorem taxes levied
72	for the payment of local bonds issued to finance or refinance
73	capital projects authorized by law when approved by vote of the
74	electors or to refund outstanding bonds, or levied for periods
75	not longer than 2 years when authorized by a vote of the
76	electors.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.