In part two of Palm Coast Councilwoman Pontieri’s letters to the editor, she breaks down the constitutional amendments for local voters. Read her professional, opinion-free, breakdown of the amendments and what a yes vote or a no vote would mean for each amendment.
Amendment 4: Abortions: What it Does: Legalizes abortion before fetal viability or when deemed necessary for the health of the mother, removing the current six-week ban.
- What voting YES does: Allows an abortion likely up to 24 weeks, which is generally assumed among health professionals to be the age of “fetal viability,” or when a healthcare provider deems it necessary for the safety of a mother. It does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.
- What voting NO does: Keeps in place the current abortion law, which allows abortion within the first six weeks of pregnancy, providing exceptions for an abortion after six weeks in the case of rape or incest.
Pros v. Cons: This amendment affords an additional right to women desiring an abortion after six weeks or under special exceptions, however, the Amendment does not define “fetal viability,” or “health care provider,” and it doesn’t limit what point a health care provider can deem the health of the mother at risk, setting up future controversy over late-term abortions
Amendment 5: Homesteads: What it Does: Beginning January 1, 2025, requires an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies.
- What voting YES does: There are currently two $25,000 exemptions available to property owners, reducing $50,000 off the taxable value of a home. Voting yes creates an inflation adjustment, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), for the second of those two $25,000 homestead exemptions, which does not affect taxes that pay for schools.
- What voting NO does: Keeps the current homestead tax exemption regardless of inflation, causing taxes to automatically rise as property values rise with inflation, even if tax rates do not increase.
- Pros v. Cons: This amendment helps to keep property taxes from increasing when property values increase unless local officials increase the actual tax rates; however, it will also reduce the revenues for local governments while those same local governments encounter inflation to operational costs.
Amendment 6: Campaign Financing:
What it Does: Repeals Article VI, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution, which requires the state to have a public financing program for statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture) who agree to spending limits and otherwise qualify for public campaign financing.
- What voting YES does: Prevents the use of public tax dollars from the general fund to contribute to Florida’s public campaign financing program, which matches small-dollar campaign donations.
- What voting NO does: Keeps in place public financing for statewide candidates who meet the following requirements: (1) not be running unopposed; (2) agrees to expenditure limits; (3) raises $150,000 (for gubernatorial candidates) or $100,000 (for cabinet candidates); (4) limits loans or contributions from the candidate’s funds; and (5) agrees to a post-election financial audit.
- Pros v. Cons: The Amendment prevents those running for statewide office from using taxpayer money for election purposes, which should arguably lower taxes and allocate general revenue funds to other important state needs; however, it could also limit the candidate pool, precluding those that may not already have sufficient funds, the capacity to raise sufficient funds or political and financial connections, arguably promoting candidates funded by special interest groups.
