What's On The Ballot - A Breakdown

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St. Petersburg, FL (Oct. 12, 2022) -  There are a few items on the ballot this year that could impact St. Pete. Here's a breakdown of those items and what they would mean, in simple terms.

Charter Amendment #1: Rescheduling St. Pete Municipal Elections

Background

The City Charter currently requires elections for Mayor and City Council Members to occur in odd-numbered years.

What Would Change

  • Elections for Mayor and City Council Members would be rescheduled to occur in even-numbered years, in conjunction with national and state elections, beginning in 2024.

  • Intended to increase voter turnout, provide early voting at no additional cost and reduce costs to the City.

  • Term of current City elected officials would be extended by approximately one year to accommodate the change in schedule, without affecting term limits.

Charter Amendment #2: City Council Residency Requirements

Background

St. Pete is in the process of redrawing its City Council districts through the redistricting process. City Council Members and candidates must be a resident of the district that they are representing. Current language does not address how redistricting affects those residency requirements.

What Would Change

  • Allow for City Council candidates to satisfy the 12-month residency requirement through a combination of residency within new and previous district boundaries if redistricting occurs during that 12-month period. But candidates must still reside within the new boundaries by the time of qualification to run for office. 

  • Allow affected Council Members to complete their current terms following redistricting as long as they maintain residency within previous or new district boundaries. But running for re-election would require establishing residency within the new boundaries. 

Referendum Question #1: Dali Museum Lease Amendment

Background

The City and the Dalí Museum are within a 99-year lease for the City-owned waterfront property used by the Dalí Museum. Pursuant to Charter provisions limiting the use of City-owned waterfront property, addition of new property to the lease requires voter approval.

What Would Change

  • An amendment to the lease would add additional City-owned property to the lease to allow the construction of a Museum expansion.

  • Amendment conditions would address insurance, indemnity and coordination; operation of the Mahaffey Theater and the Grand Prix; and future development of the surrounding Center for the Arts.

  • The amendment would NOT extend the duration of the lease or require City funding for the expansion.

Referendum Question #2: Economic Development Tax Exemptions

Background

Businesses in St. Pete pay ad valorem property taxes based on the assessed value of their property, subject to any applicable exemptions.

What Would Change

  • Allow for City Council to grant property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that will create a specified number of new, full-time jobs in St. Pete.

  • Businesses must apply for an exemption by filing a written application that includes a description of the proposed improvements and the number of jobs that are expected to be created, along with the average wage of the jobs.

  • Exemptions would be granted on a case-by-case basis through City Council’s adoption of an ordinance, which requires reading of the title at two separate meetings and a public hearing.

  • Exemptions can be approved only for the assessed value of improvements and the associated increase in value for tangible personal property.  Accordingly, taxes would still be owed on the value of the underlying land and on pre-existing improvements and tangible personal property.

  • Exemptions on the assessed value of improvements and the associated increase in value for tangible personal property may only be granted for a maximum of 10 years. Following the expiration of the exemption, the full value of the ad valorem taxes on the improvements and tangible personal property would be received by the City.