Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/86226
Sarasota News Leader October 5, 2012 ments. The chamber is encouraging its mem- bers to vote in favor of Amendments 2, 4, 9, 10 and 11, Matthes said. "We, as an association, should probably take a position as well," he added. Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patter- son, who was a guest at the meeting, asked to weigh in on Amendment 4. According to the Florida Division of Elec- tions, that amendment would "provide that the assessment of homestead and specified nonhomestead property may not increase if the just value of that property is less than the just value of the property on the pre- ceding January 1, sub- ject to any adjustment in the assessed value due to changes, addi- tions, reductions, or improvements to such property which are as- sessed as provided for by general law." In other words, Patterson said, if the value of homestead property goes down, the proper- ty owner will see "some erasure of the gap" between assessed value and the real market value. The amendment also would reduce from 10% to 5% the limitation on annual changes in as- sessments of nonhomestead real property. Referring to those provisions, Patterson said, "That's, frankly, bait for the homeowners who are, by and large, the [people who will] vote on this. … I would urge you to look at the long-term effects of something like that." Page 24 The Florida Association of Counties has esti- mated that if Amendment 4 is approved, with- in four years, Sarasota County will have col- lected about $9.4 million less in property tax revenue. Municipalities also would see less revenue, she added. "That's a lot of money … about an 8% or so reduction in our property tax collections" in the county. Patterson pointed out that since the Great Re- cession began, the county's property tax base had lost 40% of its value. You're putting something in the constitution that's really rough to take out, with long-term, serious consequences, I believe, to the quality of life in the community. County Commissioner Nora Patterson People who want good libraries and parks, good law enforcement and other amenities, she said, should be cautious about voting for the amendment. "You're putting some- thing in the constitu- tion that's really rough to take out, with long- term, serious conse- quences, I believe, to the quality of life in the community," she said. The League of Women Voters and the execu- tive committees of both the state's Democrat- ic and Republican parties all were advocating against passage of Amendment 4, Patterson said. AMENDMENT 10 Kevin Cooper, executive director of the Sies- ta Key Chamber of Commerce, spoke in sup- port of Amendment 10. The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce "was instrumental in getting this on the ballot," he added.