PINELLAS COUNTY – The deadline to register to vote or change parties before the Jan. 29 presidential preference primary is Dec. 31.
New residents to the state and county can register during regular business hours at any Supervisor of Elections office, public library, driver license office or any government office that handles social services or disabilities.
Registered voters who want to make a party change can call 464-6108 for more information.
On Jan. 29, voters will choose, by party, their preferred candidate to run for president of the United States, as well as vote on a proposed amendment to the State Constitution on property tax exemptions and limitations on property tax assessments.
Voters also will get an opportunity to decide on a ballot question seeking voter approval of continuing one-half mill ad valorem tax to pay for school district operating expenses.
Municipal elections in Clearwater, Gulfport, Safety Harbor, Redington Shores and South Pasadena are scheduled.
Early voting is scheduled to begin on Jan. 14 and end on Jan. 26. Elections employees took the first round of Mail ballots, formerly known as absentee ballots, to the post office on Dec. 13, according to Nancy Whitlock, communications director with the Supervisor of Elections Office.
She said Mail Ballots would continue going out daily as people requested them. To request a mail ballot, call 464-6108.
She said the name was changed "mainly because you don't have to be absent. Any registered voter can request a ballot to be sent and vote by mail. You don't need an excuse."
Whitlock said the Elections Office did not project how many voters might participate in any election.
"We hope there's enough interest in the ballot and people will get out and vote," she said. "We encourage people to vote."
Presidential primary
Persons registered as a Republican will choose between presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson.
Democrats will choose between Joseph R. Biden Jr., Hillary Clinton, Christopher J. Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barack Obama and William 'Bill' Richardson III.
State ballot question
Voters will be asked to say yea or nay to a proposed amendment to the state constitution relating to property taxation.
With respect to homestead property, the change would increase the homestead exemption except for school district taxes and allow homestead property owners to transfer up to $50,000 of Save-Our-Homes benefits to their next homestead.
Owners of non-homesteaded property would be given a $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property and have a limit on assessments for specified non-homestead property except for school district taxes.
Details of the proposed amendment include:
- Increases in the homestead exemption by exempting assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 – not including school district taxes.
- Homestead property owners would be able to transfer their Save-Our-Homes benefit to a new homestead within one year and not more than two years after relinquishing their previous homestead. If voters approve the constitution amendment in January of 2008 and if a new homestead is established on Jan. 1, 2008, the previous homestead must have been relinquished in 2007.
If the new homestead has a higher just value than the previous one, the accumulated benefit can be transferred; if the new homestead has a lower just value, the amount of benefit transferred will be reduced. The transferred benefit may not exceed $500,000. This provision applies to all taxes.
- Authorizes an exemption from property taxes of $25,000 of assessed value of tangible personal property. This provision applies to all taxes.
- Limits the assessment increases for specified non-homestead real property to 10 percent each year. Property will be assessed at just value following an improvement, as defined by general law, and may be assessed at just value following a change of ownership or control if provided by general law. This limitation does not apply to school district taxes. This limitation is repealed effective Jan. 1, 2019, unless renewed by a vote of the electors in the general election held in 2018.
The revision repeals obsolete language on the homestead exemption when it was less than $25,000 and did not apply uniformly to property taxes levied by all local governments.
It also provides for homestead exemptions to be repealed if a future constitutional amendment provides for assessment of homesteads "at less than just value" rather than as currently provided "at a specified percentage" of just value.
The revised amendment schedules changes to take effect upon approval by the electors and operate retroactively to Jan. 1, 2008, if approved in a special election held on Jan. 29, 2008, or to take effect Jan. 1, 2009, if approved in the general election held in Nov. of 2008.
The limitation on annual assessment increases for specified real property shall first apply to the 2009 tax roll if this revision is approved in a special election held on Jan. 29, 2008, or shall first apply to the 2010 tax roll if this revision is approved in the general election held in November of 2008.
School board referendum
The Jan. 29, 2008 ballot also asks voters to approve continuation of a one-half mill ad valorem tax beginning July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2013 for school district operating expenses, including funds to recruit and retain quality teachers; preserve reading programs and music and art classes; and provide up-to-date textbooks and technology.
Oversight of the expenditures would be by an independent citizens financial oversight committee.
The one-half mill was first approved by Pinellas County voters on Nov. 2, 2004, and has generated more than $67-million in revenues through 2006-07 for teacher compensation and initiatives in the areas of reading, visual arts, performing arts and technology. The referendum will expire at the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year.
According to a report from school Superintendent Clayton Wilcox, "on average, teachers have received salary support of $3,679 a year. This increased salary helps the district retain veteran teachers and recruit highly qualified teachers, which impacts student achievement."
Wilcox also said "Our quality of life in Pinellas County is improved through the referendum’s impact in other areas," including:
- Performing Arts, $5.6-million: strings programs have been added, high school band uniforms have been paid for, and instrument rental fees were waived for students on free and reduced lunch.
- Visual Arts, $5.6-million: art supplies have been purchased, art mobile has been supplied to allow students to experience local museums more thoroughly, and field trips to museums and art galleries have been added.
- Technology, $5.6-million: schools are now equipped with wireless mobile labs, and the one-to-one laptop project at Osceola Middle is moving into Phase II allowing all students to use laptops in each of their classes.
- Reading, $12-million: classroom libraries have been updated with new collections of books to engage struggling readers and high-interest books for advanced readers.
The Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee (ICROC), an independent financial oversight committee made up of local citizens, has reported that the money collected from the referendum over the past two years has been spent exactly as promised with funds going to support local our teachers and their classrooms.
For more information or to update voter information, call the Supervisor of Elections office at 727-464-6108 or visit www.votepinellas.com.
