The Case Against Amendment 4

by Danielle Lassiter - Posted In: Construction Law, Environmental & Land Use, Leisure & Resorts Group, Real Estate

Amendment 4, the proposed “Hometown Democracy” amendment to the Florida Constitution which will appear on the November ballot, would bring chaos, confusion, and economic deterioration to the State of Florida.

Amendment 4 means higher property taxes and higher costs for all working families. Under Amendment 4, local governments would be required to hold expensive referenda on hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of comprehensive plan amendments every year.

What does Amendment 4 mean?

The reality is this “vote on everything” amendment will make matters worse. Amendment 4 would lead to short-term thinking and piecemeal planning which would promote sprawl, not prevent it. Amendment 4 will make well-coordinated, responsible growth impossible. The voices of those most directly affected by land use decisions would ultimately be diluted in a citywide or countywide political campaign.

It would require that any changes in local government comprehensive planning to be approved or not approved by voters.

What’s an example of how Amendment 4 can affect me?

Let’s say your community needs a new police station. Under Amendment 4, that might require a 2-year delay and an expensive countywide political campaign.  And then, it might not be approved by voters living 45-minutes away.  Sounds safe enough, right?  Not quite.

Just look at St. Pete Beach—they adopted a local version of Amendment 4 in 2006.  It has decimated their economy, created chaos at the polls, and caused a multitude of special interest lawsuits. To date, the citizens of St. Pete Beach have seen nearly a dozen lawsuits that have cost local taxpayers upwards of three-quarters of a million dollars in legal fees.

Learn more about this important issue here.

Vote No on 4
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