Applying Biblical Principles to the Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendments and County Referendums

This week, we begin looking at the proposed amendments to the Florida constitution. In today’s sermon, we look at Amendment 1, 2, and 5 and St Lucie County Ballot Issue 14. Amendments 1 and 2 deal with property tax exemptions for homestead and non-homestead properties. Amendment 5 would require a supermajority of both houses of the Florida Legislatures to raise taxes and/or fees, and the St Lucie County Ballot Issue 14 would raise the sales tax rate in Saint Lucie County by a half-cent.

In this sermon, we examine what God says about taxes, property rights, and we show the level of taxation that God defines as tyranny and that the founding fathers thought was ludicrous.

In next week’s sermon, we will discuss the remaining constitutional amendments.

Applying Biblical Principles to the Proposed Constitutional Amendments and County Referendums

Read Pastor Bryan Longworth’s Constitutional Amendment Voter Guide and other Voter Guides here.

Opening Passage – Psalm 149.

AMENDMENT 1 – Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption

Ballot Language: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to increase the homestead exemption by exempting the assessed valuation of homestead property greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000 for all levies other than school district levies. The amendment shall take effect January 1, 2019.

How The Amendment Reached The Ballot: Florida State Legislature

What Your Vote Means:

• A Yes vote on this measure: exempts home values between $100,000 through $125,000 from property taxes—other than school taxes—which increases the maximum homestead exemption to $75,000.
• A No vote on this measure: keeps the current homestead exemption structure and retains the $50,000 exemption rather than raising it to $75,000.

AMENDMENT 2 – Limitations on Property Tax Assessments

Ballot Language: Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to permanently retain provisions currently in effect which limit property tax assessment increases on specified non-homestead real property, except for school district taxes, to 10 percent each year. If approved, the amendment removes the scheduled repeal of such provisions in 2019 and shall take effect January 1, 2019.

How The Amendment Reached The Ballot: Florida State Legislature

What Your Vote Means:

• A Yes vote on this measure: removes the January 1, 2019 sunset provision on the property tax assessment limitation of 10 percent each year for real property.
• A No vote on this measure: maintains the January 1, 2019 expiration date for the 10 percent property tax limitation.

Biblical Principles:

1 Samuel 8:15 & 17 – “He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants… He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.” (NKJV)

Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac

“It would be a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part of their income.”

Rulers Must Live Within Their Means – 1 Samuel 8:9-18 & 6th, 8th, and 10th Commandments.

Rulers Must Protect Property Rights – Deuteronomy 19:14 – “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.”

AMENDMENT 5 – Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize, or Raise State Taxes or Fees

Ballot Language: Prohibits the legislature from imposing, authorizing, or raising a state tax or fee except through legislation approved by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature in a bill containing no other subject. This proposal does not authorize a state tax or fee otherwise prohibited by the Constitution and does not apply to fees or taxes imposed or authorized to be imposed by a county, municipality, school board, or special district.

How The Amendment Reached The Ballot: Florida State Legislature

What Your Vote Means:

• A Yes vote on this measure: mandates a two-thirds vote by each chamber of the legislature in order to enact new taxes or raise an existing tax/fee.
• A No vote on this measure: retains the current simple majority required to enact new taxes or raise existing ones.

St Lucie County Ballot Issue No. 14: Half-Cent Local Government Surtax

Ballot Language: To fund projects to improve local roads, reduce traffic congestion, add sidewalks, improve local water quality, including the Lagoon, reduce neighborhood flooding and similar uses under Florida law and seek matching funds for these purposes, shall St. Lucie County levy a half-cent sales tax, for ten years, with expenditures reviewed by an independent citizens committee ensuring dollars are spent fairly throughout Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie Village and St. Lucie County?

What Your Vote Means:

• A Yes vote on this measure: establishes an additional .5% sales tax in St Lucie County, making the sales tax rate in St Lucie County 7%.
• A No vote on this measure: Keeps the current sales tax rate at 6.5%.

Pastor Bryan Longworth