Clearwater Voters Decide Two Referendums on Election Day

As part of the 2012 General Election, Clearwater voters will also decide on two referendums including modifications to the city’s pension plan and changes that would allow the city council to exempt some businesses from paying ad valorem taxes.

Here is the language of the referendums as they will appear on the ballot:

Question No. 1: 

Shall the Employee Pension Plan adopted by Ordinance No. 8333-12, meeting requirements of IRS-qualified plan; extending normal retirement date, decreasing multiplier, and changing beneficiary options for non hazardous duty new hires; addressing reemployment; increasing employee contributions and changing overtime inclusion calculation for certain hazardous duty employees; delaying cost-of-living pension increase and changing beneficiary options for employees not eligible to retire; making changes to disability retirement provisions; making other changes; providing for applicability; be approved?

Voting “yes” to modifications to the pension plan could save the city $4.5 million the first year and more than $400 million over 30 years through pension benefit level reductions. Voting “no” keeps employee benefits where they are.

Question No. 2:

Shall the City Council of the City of Clearwater be authorized to grant, pursuant to s.3, Art. VII of the State Constitution, ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full-time jobs in the City of Clearwater?

Voting “yes” to create Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions would allow the city council to apply this reduction to property taxes to new businesses that would create at least 10 jobs and expansions of existing business. Voting “no” means the City Council would not be able to grant this exemption.

A referendum fact sheet for the ballot questions are available online and attached to this story.

Residents can send questions and comments online through the city's Citizen Request Center and a city officials will provide a reply. Go to myclearwater.com and select “Citizen Request Center” on the left. Then create a new request and select category “Referendum Information.”

Visit myclearwater.com/referendum or call 727-562-4325.