The Florida Increased Homestead Exemption Amendment, also known as Amendment 6 was a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment on the November 7, 2006 election ballot in Florida, where it was approved.
- The amendment modified Article XII, Section 26 and Article VII, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution to authorize the Florida State Legislature to allow counties to increase the maximum additional homestead property tax exemption for low-income seniors from $25,000 to $50,000. This change went into effect on January 1, 2007. Since Florida's 67 counties already had an additional, existing option of adding an additional $25,000 exemption, some seniors (depending on which county they live in) have an exemption from property taxes as high as $75,000.[1]
Election results
| Florida Amendment 6 (2006) |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage |
 a Yes | 3,533,101 | 76.39% |
| No | 1,092,128 | 23.61% |
Results via: the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections
Text of measure
The ballot title read:
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INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION[1]
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The ballot read:
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Proposing amendment of the State Constitution to increase the maximum additional homestead exemption for low-income seniors from $25,000 to $50,000 and to schedule the amendment to take effect January 1, 2007, if adopted.[1]
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Constitutional changes
Support
Arguments
- "Low-income seniors are vulnerable to sudden increases in property tax assessments, because many live on fixed incomes and simply can't keep pace with increasing property taxes. This amendment will authorize the Legislature to allow local government to potentially ease tax burdens on those most threatened by increasing property taxes."[2]
Opposition
Arguments
- "Property taxes generate a major source of revenue for local government. Reducing property taxes could financially devastate counties resulting in tax increases to cover revenue needs for schools and other local priorities. Therefore, reducing the property tax burden on homeowners could result in a shift of tax burdens from the homestead property owner to other taxpayers."[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Florida Constitution
- Proposed Amendment 6 was referred to the ballot by a vote of both chambers of the Florida State Legislature on HJR 353 (2006 session). It was sponsored by State Senator Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami).[2]
See also
External links
References
