Officials weigh in on Amendment 4

Vote yes

The Winter Park Good Government Group strongly favors the passage of Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution. In view of recent changes to state rules that cover uncontrolled growth in Florida, the citizens of Florida need the extra layer of protection that will be provided by Amendment 4. Further, the citizens of Florida are entitled to the final say on how they want their communities to grow and Amendment 4 assures us of that privilege. Please do not be influenced by misleading ads funded by those who oppose Amendment 4. To date, we have heard far too many arguments against this amendment that are simply not true. It appears that these special interest groups do not want the citizens to have a voice in controlling the growth and character of their communities. Additionally, it has been widely reported in the press that these special interest groups have raised millions of dollars to oppose Amendment 4. This war chest of funds guarantees that there will be a lot of negative pressure on Amendment 4. The outcome of this vote should not be based on the volume of ads and signs the public is exposed to.

—Gene Randall

Winter Park Good Government Group president

Vote no

Amendment 4 will be on the ballot Nov. 2. This amendment to Florida’s Constitution would require taxpayer-funded elections on all changes to local comprehensive plans. This amendment has drawn diverse and nearly universal opposition from Florida’s leading newspaper editorial boards, business organizations, labor unions, civic organizations and gubernatorial candidates. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously opposes this amendment. Florida TaxWatch, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute, wrote recently, “…the fiscal impact of Amendment 4 likely totals tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, if not hundreds of millions….” Those are big numbers and big claims, but what does Amendment 4 mean to Winter Park? Amendment 4 would require that every amendment to our comprehensive plan be placed on the ballot. In the last few months alone, there have been three changes to the Winter Park comprehensive plan:

-The Winter Park Towers project (passed the City Commission 4-1)

-Post Office property being designated as future park land (unanimously passed the City Commission)

-Annexation of property to expand medical facilities (unanimously passed the City Commission)

Changes to the comprehensive plan are often complex projects and discussed and debated for months (and in some cases, years) by the City Commission before they are brought to a vote to ensure that any change is in the best interest of the city. Imagine when we have dozens of changes each year (not just three in three months). We’d be going to the polls constantly, and at a cost. The City Clerk has said the cost to the city for each election could easily be between $35,000 and $40,000! Amendment 4 is bad for Winter Park. Elections at tremendous costs, for issues that are deeply vetted and largely supported by those on both sides of the growth issue, doesn’t make sense for our city. Vote no on Amendment 4.

—Patrick Chapin

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce president