Does the County Always Make the Best Decisions for us ?

All we are asking is to 

LET US VOTE

when the county proposes to change the rules...

The Ballot Language is as follows:

REQUIRE BOTH COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL APPROVAL OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS AFFECTING MUNICIPAL POWER OR FUNCTION

Shall the Palm Beach County Charter be amended to have charter amendments that are approved by a majority of Palm Beach County voters take effect in a municipality only if the amendment is also approved by a majority of voters in that municipality, when the proposed amendment transfers or limits a municipal service, function, power or authority? 



 

DO NOT be shut out from having a say in your community's future. A simple vote by the residents can determine when you want the intergovernmental "rules of the road" to change. No more mandates! LET US VOTE...

Here's a link to the 38 Municipalities within Palm Beach County via the local League of Cities website. You can get contact information for your individual community, find out if your community is involved with this important issue and about other issues facing your local community.

 Q&A...
  • What is the Home Rule Charter Amendment?
    Home Rule is a way for city voters to have a greater say in important matters that affect their cities. It requires that charter changes be approved by both county voters and city voters and will protect city residents from changes to services and regulatory authority against their wishes.
  • How does it work?
    Proposed changes to the County Charter that affect city service, function, power or authority would require approval of both voters countywide and the voters within the affected city. If a majority of residents within an affected city do not approve the Charter Change, it would not take effect within that municipality.
  • What does this amendment do?
    This amendment allows city voters to protect the unique character of their city. Voters countywide would no longer be able to change power or function within a city without the approval of city voters. It would require that city voters accept or reject the new countywide regulations ­ essentially opting out of regulations that don't fit their city.
  • What is Municipal Home Rule?
    Home Rule is the ability of a city and its residents to make rules for themselves without getting permission from any other government or that government’s voters.
  • Don't the Cities already have that?
    Almost. The Palm Beach cities have the right to make rules that don’t conflict with county, state or federal law, except in four areas already written into the County Charter. Those are traffic performance standards, well field protections, countywide impact fees and annexations in western Palm Beach.
  • So why do they need more Home Rule?
    It’s not a matter of more Home Rule. It’s a matter of keeping the Home Rule Palm Beach cities currently have. This change places decisions affecting city powers and functions squarely in the hands of city voters, as they should be.
  • How would this affect individual cities?
    The "personality" of your community is determined by local standards. Boca Raton is a very different place than Loxahatchee Groves and the voters in each should be allowed to set unique community standards.

    Some examples of community standards include: 

    City density
    City greenspace
    Building set-backs
    Building height requirements or limits
    Big Box Bans
    Sign ordinances
    Historical preservation
    Park department requirements
    Building appearance rules
    Zoning
    Public safety standards 
  • What will this cost?
    This will cost nothing.
  • When do we vote on this Charter Change?
    The General Election - November 4th, 2008.
  • Would unincorporated residents be harmed by this?
    No. Regulations in unincorporated parts of the county would still be determined by countywide vote.
  • Who's behind this idea?
    A group of city officials and local citizens who believe that the people of Palm Beach County deserve the right to set local standards locally.

 

 Want to know more?
Feel free to Email Us
for more information.

Read and know more about your
Palm Beach County government's charter:
The Palm Beach County Charter

Pd. Pol. Adv. Paid for by the Let Us Vote Political Committee,
PO Box 3286, Palm Beach, FL 33480.

Images on this website are used for illustration only.

 

 

 

2007JTC