2 Polk charter amendments, tax break will be on Nov. 3 ballot – The Ledger

Polk County voters will consider two county charter amendments and a business tax incentive program on the Nov. 3 ballot.

BARTOW Polk County voters will get another bite of the apple on two charter amendments and renewal of a measure granting tax breaks to new or expanding businesses in the county.

The Polk County Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to put two previously rejected county charter amendments on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

One amendment dealt with how often a citizens Charter Review Commission would meet, extending the period from every eight years to 12 years. The second amendment would abolish another citizens group, the Efficiency Commission, which is also scheduled to meet every eight years.

The Charter Commission last met in 2017 and recommended both amendments. Both failed in the 2018 general election.

Extending the interim charter review period to 12 years captured 50.6% of the vote, but it needed 60% to pass. A majority of voters, 53%, also approved abolishing the Efficiency Commission, also falling short of the 60% threshold.

The Efficiency Commission last met from 2013 into the following year and recommended abolishing itself by an 11-7 vote in its last meeting.

That commission recommended almost $10 million in supposed savings, The Ledger reported, but its unclear whether any savings approaching that were realized. It had cost $450,000 to operate.

County Manager Bill Beasley said Tuesday he didnt think the Efficiency Commission served a purpose.

"What Ive seen in the time Ive been here is that there were few efficiencies that surfaced that had any merit to pursue," said Beasley, a county employee since 2006. "The county is not perfect, but were pretty efficient."

Previous efficiency recommendations turned out to be things the county was pursing already, he said.

Commissioner George Lindsey has argued the charter, Polk governments fundamental document, does not need to be reviewed every eight years.

Past review bodies performed no more than "ministerial tweaking," he said.

Commissioners also unanimously approved putting the tax break measure on the ballot.

It asks voters to reauthorize an 8-year-old program that empowers the County Commission to give property tax abatements to new companies relocating to the county or to existing Polk businesses that expand their operations.

Polk voters approved the tax incentive program in the Nov. 6, 2012, election with a 10-year sunset provision.

Sean Malott, president and CEO of the Central Florida Development Council, Polks economic development agency, asked the commission to put renewal on this Novembers ballot to give supporters a second chance in 2022 if it fails.

Under the incentive program, new or existing companies can get an abatement on their county tax bill only for creating new, high-paying jobs, Malott said. It does not abate property taxes for schools and special tax districts.

Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-802-7591.

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2 Polk charter amendments, tax break will be on Nov. 3 ballot - The Ledger