Hoping to correct “a litany of misleading statements,” including the title of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ property tax reduction proposal, the South Florida law firm of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman on Thursday morning filed a lawsuit against state officials to clear up some wording on the constitutional amendment before the item is placed on the Nov. 3 election ballot.
Village of Key Biscayne Attorney Chad Friedman, part of that law firm, confirmed that legal action to Islander News.
He spoke at this past Tuesday night’s Village Council meeting and said they “would challenge the headline and several other parts of the ballot wording,” which includes a strong lean to benefit taxpayers without regard to other consequences, such as eliminating some vital local governmental funding.
For example, he pointed out that the headline, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” is not neutral, nor is the $250,000 amount it refers to is correct when, in fact, the reduction is maximized at the $150,000 homestead tax break level the first year.
“We believe it’s unconstitutional from a variety of reasons,” he said.
When the final wording is approved and, on the ballot, “There are certain things we will be able to do, but not (promote) advocacy against it.”
Educating the public is the key, something Village Manager Steve Williamson said, “That’s what we intend to do.”
He said the method of that education will be developed “as we go through our budget hearings.”
Other organizations, such as the Florida League of Cities, also will be supplying the public with educational tools as to the ramifications of the amendment.
“We just want to provide a fair and accurate ballot question,” Friedman said.