TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Several proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot group together multiple provisions into single measures.
One such proposal is Amendment 10. In part, it would require all charter county governments to have elected constitutional officers, including sheriffs, property appraisers, tax collectors, supervisors of elections and clerks of the circuit court.
The measure would affect some of the 20 Florida counties that have charter governments, including Miami-Dade which has an appointed sheriff and Broward, which does not have an elected tax collector.
Under the current Constitution, a charter county can change the constitutional offices from elected to appointed positions and reassign the duties, with voter approval.
Even with higher-profile amendments on the ballot dealing with issues such as gambling, dog racing and taxes, supporters of the plan including Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson hope Floridians will vote yes on 10.
“I place tremendous faith in the voters. I believe that they are going to take the time to read it and make an educated decision. Power is best served when it is closest to the people," said Sheriff Adkinson.
In addition to the charter-county provision, the ballot proposal would lead to the Legislature beginning its annual session in January in even-numbered years.
It would also create an Office of Domestic Security and Counterterrorism in the Department of Law Enforcement and revise the constitutional authority for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Amendment 10 is one of several proposals facing some criticism since the plan seems to bundle together several, unrelated issues into one measure.
60 percent of voters must support the proposal for it to pass.
