Florida's Amendments: Amendment 1

By Matt Wiley

With the 2014 mid-term election fast approaching, it’s good to understand not only whose names you’ll be seeing on the ballot, but also the constitutional amendments that could have significant effects on the future of our state. With the focus on the bickering in the race for the governor’s desk, it’s easy to forget that changes to the state’s constitution also will be decided on November 4.

Amendment 1 – The Florida Water & Land Conservation Initiative

What You’ll See: “Funds the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands including wetlands and forests; fish and wildlife habitat; lands protecting water resources and drinking water sources, including the Everglades, and the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams; beaches and shores; outdoor recreational lands; working farms and ranches; and historic or geologic sites, by dedicating 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20 years.

This amendment does not increase or decrease state revenues. The state revenue restricted to the purposes specified in the amendment is estimated to be $648 million in Fiscal Year 2015-16 and grows to $1.268 billion by the twentieth year. Whether this results in any additional state expenditures depends upon future legislative actions and cannot be determined. Similarly, the impact on local government revenues, if any, cannot be determined. No additional local government costs are expected.”

What It Means: This amendment would dedicate money acquired by the state through taxes on documents to acquiring and improving conservation lands. According to the amendment, 33 percent of funds raised through the state tax on documents would be deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF).

Formed in 1963, the LATF originally was created to fund the Outdoor Recreation & Conservation Program. According to Ballotpedia.org, that program would purchase land for parks and funding was provided by a tax on outdoor clothing and gear, but the tax was abandoned five years later. Instead, funding was provided by a tax on documents and real estate transactions, but appropriations have been sparse since 2009.

The amendment has wide support from conservation groups, including the Sierra Club, the Florida and National Wildlife Federations, the Everglades Foundation and the Florida Conservation Coalition, among numerous others. Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist also supports this amendment.

Ballotpedia reports that opponents argue that there isn’t a need for the amendment to be made, although it has good intentions. Amending the constitution also would eliminate the option to alter the amount of tax revenue that is appropriated to the LATF.