In keeping with yesterday’s promise, I am including the five Broward Charter Amendments that are on the 2010 Broward County Ballot.
For the five amendments to the Broward County Charter, I am listing the opinions of the Miami Herald and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.
Update: I am including a link to Michael Mayo’s assessment of the five charter Amendments at the Sun Sentinel.
Broward County Charter Amendment 1 – The Charter Review Commission And Management And Efficiency Study
Summary: Charter Review Commission and the Management and Efficiency Study Committee Shall Meet Every Ten Years (see text)
Editorial Opinions
Miami Herald: AGAINST
A decade between reviews of the county charter for possible revisions or updates is too long. Unfortunately, the County Commission often doesn’t pay much attention to the review commission’s proposed charter changes. It would be helpful if the charter were revised to allow the Charter Review Commission to put amendments to voters when county commissioners don’t take its recommendations seriously.
Sun-Sentinel: AGAINST
This amendment would have the Charter Review Commission and Management and Efficiency Study Committee meet every 10 years. At present, the committee meets every six years. That is not too heavy a load of meetings to help keep the charter up-to-date.
Broward County Charter Amendment 2 – County Code Of Ethics Prevails Over Municipal Ordinances Regulating Conduct Of Public Officials And Employees
Summary: Shall Section 11.01 of the Broward County Charter be amended to provide that a County Code of Ethics, when enacted by the County Commission as an ordinance, shall prevail over any conflicting municipal ordinances that regulate the conduct of elected officials, appointed officials, and public employees? (see text)
Editorial Opinions
Miami Herald: SUPPORT
The proposal would make the County Commission’s new ethics code prevail over any conflicting municipal ordinances regulating city officials’ conduct. Making one uniform ethics code cover officials in all 31 Broward cities avoids confusion and conflicting rules.
Sun-Sentinel: SUPPORT
This amendment would provide that a county code of ethics, when enacted, would prevail over possibly conflicting municipal ordinances. This makes sense by having officials from all cities subjected to the same code of ethics.
Broward County Charter Amendment 3 – Broward County Constitutional Officers Subject To The Broward County Code Of Ethics
Summary: Shall the Broward County Charter be amended to make the Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Clerk of the circuit Court subject to the Broward County Code of Ethics? (see text)
Editorial Opinions
Miami Herald: SUPPORT
This amendment would extend the code of ethics to the county’s constitutional officers — the sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and clerk of courts. What’s good for elected county and city commissioners is likewise good for constitutional officers.
Sun-Sentinel: SUPPORT
This amendment would make the county constitutional officers sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and clerk of the circuit court subject to the Broward County Code of Ethics. A no-brainer.
Broward County Charter Amendment 4 – Establish Charter Office Of Inspector General
Summary: Shall Article XII of the Broward County Charter be created to establish a Charter Office of Inspector General; to preempt any and all Inspector General offices existing or created by County or Municipal ordinance; and to provide for the powers and functions of the Charter Office of Inspector General including the investigation of misconduct and gross mismanagement by County and Municipal officials and employees and in County and Municipal contracting? (see text)
Editorial Opinions
Miami Herald: SUPPORT
The County Commission created the office by ordinance, meaning it can be changed — even weakened — by future commission majorities. To avoid that, it should be a chartered office.
The amendment language mirrors the ordinance’s. The inspector general could act on his or her own initiative, anonymous tips and signed complaints. The wording regarding anonymous tipsters is nuanced, but County Attorney Jeffrey Newton assures that it allows such tips to be filed and acted on. The inspector general could subpoena witnesses to probe county and municipal misconduct and gross mismanagement — as well these governments’ contractors.
Whistle blowers would have to have personal knowledge of any wrongdoing. Accusers could also be sued for investigative costs if a complaint is found to be frivolous, malicious or false, which is only fair.
Sun-Sentinel: AGAINST
The Inspector General concept is sound, but the details are unacceptable. For example, anonymous complaints could not be used to prompt investigations, and accusers must also have personal knowledge of any wrongdoing. Accusers could also be sued for fees under certain circumstances. There will still be an Inspector Generals Office, but its better to reject this amendment.
Broward County Charter Amendment 5 – Allow Counties To Show Taxpayers The Portion Of Property Taxes Attributable To Constitutional Officers
Summary: Allow Counties To Show Taxpayers The Portion Of Property Taxes Attributable To Constitutional Officers Should the Florida Statutes be amended to allow counties to show county taxpayers, on the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice, the portion of property taxes attributable to each of the county’s Constitutional Officers? (see text)
Editorial Opinions
Miami Herald: SUPPORT
What’s behind this question is county commissioners’ frequent spending wars with the sheriff’s office, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the annual county budget. If voters approve this question, the commissioners will use it to sway the Broward legislative delegation to take the proposal to the Legislature.
In truth, setting aside for a moment the conflict between the commission and the sheriff, this proposal would be helpful for taxpayers, as more information on government spending always is a plus.
Sun-Sentinel: SUPPORT
This amendment would allow counties to show taxpayers, on the TRIM notice, the portion of property taxes attributable to each of the constitutional officers. The more transparency, the better.
I just wanted to thank you for this summary. It was helpful!
Absolutely no problem.
I also want to thank you for this resource. I’d much prefer to research than hear ads or get the onslaught of telephone calls. You and ballotpedia have served to empower me as a voter.
Victoria – thank you for pointing out Ballotpedia. I never knew about it. Unfortunately, they never posted anything about the Broward races – but I am thinking of setting up a Broward MediaWiki for the next set of elections.
For the Florida Constitution Amendments – see here: http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_2010_ballot_measures
the easiest way to keep government in check is never vote to increase its power or its size.
I believe in the great Jeffersonian principle that the best government is that which governs least. This is what made America Great and we need to return to the principles of our constitution and founders which made us great. Erased all the liberalism, socialism policies over the past 95 years but specially over the past 2 years which are eaten away into our foundation and strength. We believe in the individual and indivual rights and freedom not the GROUP. Socialism does not spread wealth but misery!!
Ines – sorry, but I think you are forgetting the basic principles of the original authors of the Constitution. They knew that the Constitution would be a flawed document because they knew that society would grow and evolve – which is why they created the way for government to adapt to change and not to stay mired in the past. These socialist policies of which you speak of are some of the basic human rights and needs a government is to help provide for it’s citizenry. Before Social Security, there were eldery and aged in homeless shelters dying from being poor and destitute. Before Medicare, health care was only affordable to the few who could pay the costs and fees. I could go on with many of these “socialist policies” you are more than likely railing against, but the goal was not to bring more government into our lives, it was to help the citizenry be able to pursue life, liberty and happiness. How could you remove our progress and expect our lives to be richer? How does removing the social support structure help America? We are no longer an agrarian society solely. Returning to a solely independent society where one does not address the concerns of the heater society is a selfish and inhumane act. I am sorry, but I hope you research more about the framers and authors efforts and how they saw how America would evolve.
While I may not agree with everything our government does, I still believe in the overall foundation of the American Constitution and the citizenry to bring about the change we need.
Thanks, this was very helpful. Since Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel disagree over Broward Co. Charter proposal # 4, I wish there were more information to clarify truth over anonymous tips, sueing, etc., but overall you helped me better understand the context and therefore how to vote. Most people cannot simply read a couple of sentences on election day and see ramifications of their decision, without any preparation, so again, you’ve facilitated a better democracy through balanced information.
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