The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Leonore Heavey.
DIGEST
SB 207 Original 2020 Regular Session Smith
Present constitution establishes the mechanism by which ad valorem property tax millage rates are
automatically adjusted in response to changes in the tax base resulting from reassessment or a change
in the homestead exemption. Both the millage rate imposed in the year before the change in the
base, as well as the maximum authorized millage rate, are adjusted so that the same amount of taxes
is collected in the year after reappraisal as was collected in the prior year.
Present constitution authorizes an increase in a millage rate up to the prior year's maximum
authorized rate by 2/3 vote of its governing body without voter approval. The maximum authorized
rate is adjusted every four years due to statewide reassessment and may also be adjusted due to a
change in the homestead exemption.
Proposed constitutional amendment allows a taxing authority to increase its millage rate up to any
previous maximum authorized millage rate approved by the taxing authority's electors rather than
the present constitution's maximum authorized rate in effect the prior year.
Specifies submission of the amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held on
November 3, 2020.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, ยง23(C))