HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach

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HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach
LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
                                                HALF-CENT SALES TAX
                                  Volusia County voters will be asked to vote on whether to
                                 approve a half-cent sales tax to fund projects for county and
Referendum Election - Issue 1

                                   municipal public facilities restricted to roads, sidewalks,
                                 bridges, water quality, stormwater and flood control, and 16
                                  amenities ancillary to those facilities, shall Volusia County
                                ordinance 2019-4 be approved to levy a one-half cent sales tax
          May 21, 2019

                                     Generates approximately $45 million per year for 20
                                      years
                                     Ormond Beach will receive approximately $2.3 million
                                      per year
                                     Funds road improvements and cleaner waterways in our
                                      community
                                     Every dollar raised will stay in Volusia County
                                     All projects will be reviewed by a citizens’ oversight
                                      committee

                                      Learn More:
                                      VISIT the City website at www.ormondbeach.org to view eligible
                                      projects, including descriptions and cost estimates, in Ormond
                                      Beach

                                  Sales Tax Projects:
                                  our roads, our waterways
                                  our community
HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach
CITY OF ORMOND BEACH
                                                    MUNICIPAL REFERENDA
                                 Ormond Beach voters will be asked to vote on four questions
                                  related to whether the Ormond Beach City Charter should be
Referendum Election - Issue 2
                May 21, 2019
                                 amended to provide for extended terms, staggering of terms,
                                 term limits, and a primary election for the office of the mayor
                                                  and four city commissioners.

                                Question1:
                                Shall Sections 3.03 and 3.05 of the Charter be Amended
                                Providing Four Year Terms?
                                The proposed amendment would increase the terms of office from two (2)
                                years to four (4) years for the mayor and four (4) city commissioners who
                                are elected from zones and provide a transition schedule.

                                If approved, at the election scheduled to occur on November 3, 2020, the
                                mayor and city commissioners elected to represent the even-numbered
                                zones shall serve for terms of four (4) years, and those city commissioners
                                elected to represent the odd-numbered zones shall serve for terms of two
                                (2) years. Thereafter, all elections for the office of mayor and all city
                                commissioners shall be for terms of four (4) years, commencing on the
                                first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even numbered
                                year.

                                Question 2:
                                Shall Section 6.02 of the Charter be Amended to Provide
                                Staggered Terms of Office?
                                The proposed amendment would provide staggered terms of office for the
                                mayor and four (4) commissioners and provide a transition schedule. This
                                charter amendment shall be contingent upon approval of four (4) year
                                terms as provided in Question 1.
HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach
CITY OF ORMOND BEACH
                                                    MUNICIPAL REFERENDA
                                Question 3:
                                Shall Section 5.06 of the Charter be Amended Providing for
Referendum Election - Issue 2
                 May 21, 2019
                                a Primary Election?
                                The proposed amendment would provide for a primary election to be held
                                when more than two (2) candidates qualify for any of the designated seats
                                of the city commission or for the office of mayor.

                                If approved, a primary election would be held when more than 2 persons
                                qualify as candidates for any seat of the commission or the office of the
                                mayor ten (10) weeks prior to the general election. The two candidates
                                receiving the highest number of votes at the primary election shall be placed
                                on the ballot for the regular municipal election. If any one candidate in the
                                primary election receives more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast
                                for a seat or designated office, such candidate shall be declared elected with
                                out being voted upon in a run-off municipal election and shall assume office
                                on the third Tuesday in November following the general municipal election.

                                Question 4:
                                Shall Section 3.03 of the Charter be Amended Providing for
                                Term Limits?
                                The proposed amendment would provide that no person may serve in the
                                position of city commissioner or mayor for more than three (3)
                                consecutive full four (4) year terms. This charter amendment shall be
                                contingent upon approval of four (4) year terms as provided in Question 1.

                                 Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters on May 1st and must
                                  be returned to the Supervisor of Elections by 7pm on May 21.
                                            Ballots may be dropped off in person at:
                                                     Ormond Beach City Hall
                                                    by 5pm on May 20, 2019.
HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach
Be Informed,
                                  Be Involved,

                             Be Election Ready!

Special Mail Ballot Election May 21, 2019

1. All registered Volusia County voters will be mailed a ballot.
     If not already registered to vote, the deadline to register is April 22.

     Ballots will be mailed on May 1.

     Voters may verify the status of their ballot by accessing the Department of
     Elections website, www.volusiaelections.org.

2. Mail Ballot will contain the following:
     Ballot, Return Envelope/Certificate and Secrecy Sleeve

3. Returning Ballot
     Mail Ballot must in the Supervisor of Elections office, in DeLand, by 7 pm on
     May 21 to be counted.
     Return your ballot in the postage-paid envelope.

          You must sign this envelope. If it is not signed, it may not count.
                A Power of Attorney is not valid for voting.
     For your convenience, a secured Mail Ballot Collection Box will be placed at
     every City/Town Hall in your municipality beginning May 2 until May 20.
   City of Ormond Beach Ballot Box - Located at Water Dept./Finance - 1st Floor

   For more information, please contact the Department of Elections.
           Lisa Lewis, Supervisor of Elections
                             (386) 736-5930
                          www.volusiaelections.org
HALF-CENT SALES TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - City of Ormond Beach
VOLUSIA COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR
                                        RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT

                   FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE
                   & THE HALF CENT SALES TAX
                 The 16 cities of Volusia and the County have come together to solve top concerns of the
            citizens which is providing better roads and cleaner water. While national policy-makers are
                wrestling with how to fund federal infrastructure, locally a half cent increase in sales tax is
                    being proposed during a May 1st mail-in ballot Special Election to solve this locally.

                D+
                                                     The need for increased revenue to fund roads and other
                                                     infrastructure is not unique to Volusia County. This is a
                                                     nationwide crisis reflected in the D+ grade given by the
                                                     American Society of Civil Engineers in their Report Card for
                                                     America’s Infrastructure; grades are based on physical
         Report Card for America's
                                                     conditions and needed investments for improvement.
              Infrastructure

                                                     For cities and counties around the country, there is a basic
    Cost of Road Construction Materials              unmet need for infrastructure revenue to be greater than

                     Prepared
                                                     expenses. On the revenue-side, the gas tax has received
                      asphalt                        national attention for its long-time inability to have met
                                    Crushed
                                     stone
                                                     future funding requirements.

        Steel                         Concrete       The primary form of funding roads through a gas tax has not
         bars                        ingredients
                                                     held its purchasing power over time. According to the
                                                     Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, "one reason is
                                                     because efficiency has improved so drivers are now able to
                                                     travel further distances on each tank of gas before they have
  2000       2004      2008       2012        2016   to stop, refuel, and pay anything in gas taxes. Those extra

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis;            miles being squeezed out of each tank of gas are essentially
prepared by PPI 2017                                 tax-free, relative to what drivers had been paying previously."

     Are you shopping in Seminole,                   On the expense-side, the cost of materials to construct roads
  Brevard or Flagler Counties? Then                  has been increasing due to a variety of factors including
    you are already paying the half-                 global conditions. The cost of development has also seen an

  cent tax... only it goes to fund those             increase from additional engineering and consultant work

      counties rather than Volusia.                  necessary to meet federal and state requirements that protect
       Tax Rate Source: Florida Dept. of Revenue     the environment and water quality.
VOLUSIA COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR
                                                                                              PAGE 02
                           RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT

           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
                 AND STATEMENTS
What will the sales tax money be spent on?
Better roads and clean water projects. The County and all 16 cities have generated priority lists for funding
which can be viewed at volusia.org (No funds will go towards Sunrail or transit).

I don't trust the money will be spent wisely.
Understood. It is difficult to monitor all spending in local government without attending the several
budget hearings that are designed specifically for public input. Therefore, a Citizens Oversight Committee
will be put together to ensure money is spent on the priority lists mentioned above. Additionally, the
Florida Statute and County Ordinance have laws which are specific on how the money can be spent.

How much money will the sales tax generate?
Roughly $45 million annually until the sales tax sunsets after 20 years (that's $900 million dollars total).
Unlike the current 6% sales tax paid to the state, 100% of whatever is generated by this half cent stays in
Volusia County. The half-cent sales tax will return approximately $86 per Volusia County resident to be
used for better roads and cleaner water projects. Source: Florida Dept. of Revenue's Office of Tax Research

That doesn't seem enough to fund the more than $1.5 billion dollar needs identified in the priority lists.
If the half cent sales tax gets passed, Volusia and its cities has a dedicated funding source that can be
leveraged for additional matching funds from state and federal agencies that tend to look for local
matches. Having local money to match state and federal grants makes Volusia more competitive for limited
dollars.

Will my city get a portion of these funds?
Yes, all 16 cities in Volusia will share in 50% of the sales tax using a state-approved distribution formula
using population. The other 50% remains with the County. See distribution estimates at volusia.org.

When will the sales tax begin collection?
Sales tax increase will not begin collection until January 1, 2020 in order to get Citizens Oversight
Committee in place.

Is there a limit to how much can be taxed on large purchases?
Yes, per state statute, no more than an additional $25 can be charged as tax applies to up to $5,000.
Current exempt items like groceries, prescription drugs., etc., will not be subject to the additional half-
cent sale tax.

Tourists put a strain on our road and water systems, why don't we raise taxes associated with tourism?
Tourists are estimated to pay 35% of the overall estimated collection. Also, the State Legislature is specific
as to what taxes can be used to fund what projects. The half cent sales tax is the viable option for
infrastructure whereas taxes on hotel rooms (bed tax) cannot be spent on roads and water quality.
VOLUSIA COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR
                                                                                               PAGE 03
                           RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT

           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
           AND STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Are there other counties who levy a similar tax?
Yes, 17.3 million (83%) of Florida’s 20.8 million residents live in counties with a higher sales tax rate than
Volusia County. Source: BEBR 2018 population totals

Is the County in a position to carry out these projects?
Prior to a sales tax referendum, the County was required by the state to be audited by an outside firm.
According to this audit, "Public Works has sufficient policies and procedures in place, supported by
appropriate documentation, reports, monitoring tools, and personnel to address the statutory criteria
defined in s. 212.055(10) Florida Statutes." Audit can be found at volusia.org

Why do we need this sales tax when the County just raised impact fees?
Impact fees were raised to a maximum defensible-level per state statutes. Even then, preliminary
estimates of net revenue (after credits, etc) from impact fees are at most $3.6 million in one year, in Zone
4 (estimates based on a projection of 2017 building permit data). The current priority list of funding for
Zone 4 needs is $44.27 million for top projects, $77.29 million for other transportation projects and $2.75
million for water quality projects (potable water, sanitary sewer and stormwater sewer impact fees may be
used for projects that are needed to address future growth to existing systems or the construction of new
systems). Impact fees come with other restrictions including that they CANNOT be used for maintenance
and CANNOT be used to address deficiencies.

Will other agencies take some of the tax generated as it is getting distributed to Volusia?
No, 100% of what is generated will be distributed back to Volusia and its 16 cities according to the
distribution formula. The half-cent sales tax proceeds directly to the county and the individual cities, and
they will not pass through another administrative agency, authority, etc.

What if we don't pass the tax?
This is a question for all Americans as infrastructure across the country is demanding additional revenue
from somewhere. Locally, we have the power to address this issue head-on and ensure our area has better
roads and clean water.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Actual ballot language
http://www.volusiaelections.org/2019%20Updates/Special%20Mail%20Ballot%20Election.html

Estimated Net Revenue for Impact Fees
https://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/6204/urlt/VC-Public-Information-Presentation-FINAL.pdf

Limit on Purchases
http://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library/current/gt800019.pdf
11                                                                                                                                                           Typ:01 Seq:0052 Spl:01
                                                    Official Special Election Ballot, May 21, 2019
                                                               Volusia County, Florida
                                               Papeleta Oficial de Elección Especial, 21 de mayo 2019
                                                             Condado de Volusia, Florida

     • To vote, fill in the oval completely ( ) next to your choice. Use only the marker provided or a black or blue pen.
     • If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot. Do not cross out or your vote may not count.
21
     • Para votar, llene completamente el óvalo ( ) a lado de su selección. Sólo use el marcador proporcionado o un bolígrafo
                                                                                                                     olígrafo
                                                                                                                      lígrafo negro
                                                                                                                              ne o azul.
                                                                                                                                    azu
     • Si usted hace un error, pida una papeleta nueva. No tache o su voto puede no contar.

     County Referendum                                      City of Ormond Beach                                        Questi 3
                                                                                                                        Question
     Referéndum del Condado                                 Municipal Referenda
                                                                                                                        Shall
                                                                                                                          all Section 5.06 of the Charter be

                                                                  E
                                                            Ciudad de Ormond Beach                                            ded Providing for a Primary E
                                                                                                                        Amended                            Election?
     Local Government Infrastructure Half-Cent              Referéndos Municipales
     Sales Surtax                                                                                                       The proposed
                                                                                                                                p p sed amendment would woul provide for a
                                                            Question 1                                                  pprimaryy election
                                                                                                                                        on to be held whwhen more than two
     To fund projects for county and municipal public                                                                    ((2)) candidates qualify      any
                                                                                                                                                       a of the designated
                                                                                                                                          qualifyy for an
     facilities restricted to roads, sidewalks, bridges,    Shall Sections 3.03 and 3.055 of thee Charter
                                                                                                  Charte                                    commission
                                                                                                                          seats of the city commiss
                                                                                                                                              mmis        or for the office of
     water quality, stormwater and flood control, and       be Amended Providing Four ur Year Terms?                      mayor.
     amenities ancillary to those facilities, shall

40

41

43
     Volusia County Ordinance 2019-4 be approved
     to levy a one-half cent sales tax for twenty
     years; and to establish a Citizens Advisory
     Committee to review the use of proceeds?
     Impuesto Adicional de Ventas de Medio
     Centavo para Infraestructura de
     Administración Municipal
     ¿Para financiar proyectos para instalaciones
     públicas del condado y municipales restringidas
     a vías, aceras, puentes, calidad del agua,
     control de aguas pluviales y inundaciones, s, y
     servicios de auxiliares a esas instalaciones,
                                              ones,
                                               nes,
                                                     as
                                                                PL
                                                            The proposed amendment
                                                            terms of office from
                                                            years for the mayor

                                                            Pregunta
                                                            ¿
                                                                unta
                                                                 nta 1
                                                            ¿Deberá
                                                                                     ment would increase the
                                                                                    dment
                                                                                 m two ((2)) yyears to fou
                                                                               yyor and four (4)
                                                                            ayor

                                                                  rá las Secciones 3.03 y 3.05
                                                            Carta ser
                                                            Términoss de Cuatro Años?
                                                                                A
                                                            La enmiendaa propuesta
                                                                           p p
                                                                                               ( ) cityy
                                                            commissionerss who are elected from zones
                                                            provide a transition
                                                                           sition schedule.
                                                                       ransition   sch

                                                                                          3 de la
                                                                   er Enmendadas Proporcionando
                                                                                   Proporcio

                                                                                      aumentaría llos
                                                            términos de oficina de dos (2)
                                                                                                         four (4)
                                                                                                          zo

                                                                                             años a cuatro (4)
                                                                                        ( ) aaño
                                                                                                                  and
                                                                                                                        Pregunta 3
                                                                                                                        ¿¿Deberá la Sección 5.06 de la Carta ser
                                                                                                                         Enmendada Proporcionando para una
                                                                                                                         Enmend
                                                                                                                         Enmenda
                                                                                                                         Elección
                                                                                                                            cci Primaria?
                                                                                                                         Elecció
                                                                                                                        La enmienda propuesta aseguraría que una
                                                                                                                        elección primaria ser sostenida cuando más de
                                                                                                                        dos (2) candidatos califican por cualquiera de
                                                                                                                        los asientos designados de la comisión de la
                                                                                                                        ciudad o para la oficina de alcalde.
                                                                                                                              Yes for Approval / Sí para Aprobación
                                    M
                                                                                                                     No for Rejection / No para Rechazo
     deberá la Ordenanza 2019-4 del Condado    do de
                                           ndado                                           (4) comisarios de
                                                            años ppara el alcalde y cuatro (4
     Volusia ser aprobada para imponer  er un               ciudad que
                                                                    q son elegidos
                                                                                g     por
                                                                                      p zonas
                                                                                          z      y             Question 4
     impuesto de ventas de medio centavo por  p             proporcionar un horario
                                                                             horar de transición.
     veinte años; y para establecer
                                  er un Comité                    Yes for Approval / Sí para Aprobación        Shall Section 3.03 of the Charter be
     Asesor de Ciudadanos para  ra revisar el uso de                                                           Amended Providing for Term Limits?
     los ingresos?
                                                                         Rejection
                                                                  No for Rejec
                                                                         R         / No Para Rechazo
                                                                                                               The proposed amendment would provide that
49        FOR the half-cent
                     lf-cent sales tax /                    Question 2                                         no person may serve in the position of city
          POR el impuesto
                  mpuesto de ventastas de                                                                      commissioner or mayor for more than three (3)
SA

          medio centavo
                 entav                                      Shall  Section 6.02 of the Charter be
                                                              hall S
                                                                   Se                                          consecutive full four (4) year terms. This charter
                                                            Amended to Provide Staggered Terms of
                                                            Amen                                               amendment shall be contingent upon approval
          AGAINST
           GAINST the half-cent sales tax /                 Office?
                                                            Off                                                of four (4) year terms as provided in Question 1.
          CONTRA el impuesto de ventas de medio
          cen
          centavo                               The proposed amendment would provide                                    Pregunta 4
                                                staggered terms of office for the mayor and four
54                                              (4) commissioners and provide a transition                              ¿Deberá la Sección 3.03 de la Carta ser
                                                schedule. This charter amendment shall be                               Enmendada Proporcionando Límites de
                                                contingent upon approval of four (4) year terms                         Término?1
                                                as provided in Question 1.
                                                                                                                        La enmienda propuesta establecería que
                                                            Pregunta 2                                                  ninguna persona puede ocupar el cargo de
                                                                                                                        comisionado de la ciudad o alcalde por más de
                                                            ¿Deberá la Sección 6.02 de la Carta ser                     tres (3) períodos completos de cuatro (4) años
                                                            Enmendada para Proporcionar Términos                        consecutivos. Esta enmienda a la carta estará
                                                            Escalonados de Oficina?                                     supeditada a la aprobación de los términos de
                                                                                                                        cuatro (4) años conforme a la Pregunta 1.
                                                            La enmienda propuesta proporcionaría
                                                            términos escalonados de oficina para el alcalde                   Yes for Approval / Sí para Aprobación
                                                            y cuatro (4) comisionados y proporcionar un
                                                            horario de transición. Esta enmienda a la carta                   No for Rejection / No para Rechazo
                                                            estará supeditada a la aprobación de los
                                                            términos de cuatro (4) años conforme a la
                                                            Pregunta 1.
                                                                 Yes for Approval / Sí para Aprobación
                                                                  No for Rejection / No para Rechazo
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