Amendment #4I have seen Florida counties go down the drain for the last twenty plus years because of the many Comp plan changes. These counties will never learn because they are still collecting property tax even though these homeowners have vacated, and the property foreclosed. When this happens the Bank or loan people take over and try to sell the property, but that can take many months, during this time the property has to be maintained, the grass cut, air conditioner running, the electric and property taxes the Bank pays. All the money eventually comes out of our pockets, because the taxpayers pay the bill when it's a Government loan. Even when a regular Bank loans the money it's coming from the Federal Government through Bank bail-outs, and that's you, me, and our grandchildren. Then you may see my concern, and that the counties are not learning a thing. If they had to make more substantial cuts in their budgets because there is no money they might stop Comp plan amendments that allow more homes developers shouldn't get, but they cut Library hours, and approve Comp plan amendments just like they did before. It's like Nat Reed said at a Consensus meeting, he said that he fears these developers are going to get Comp plan amendments approved, and put them in the "ice box" for future use. I believe they are afraid of next year's Hometown Democracy, or Amendment 4 which is on the 2010 ballot. If approved, voters will be able to say no to Comp plan amendments that will increase density, and they don't want voters/taxpayers to have the final say, but taxpayers pay for growth, so why shouldn't they? That's what Amendment 4 will do, and developers fear it. Vote 4 Yourself, Vote 4 Amendment 4. - Joe Florio
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