Official Ballot Summary: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters.

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This amendment provides the mechanism for Florida counties to raise money for their community colleges by increasing sales taxes with voter approval.

The amendment itself would not impose a tax; it would grant state lawmakers the ability to give each Florida county the choice to tax or not.

Each county would then require approval of its voters before it could increase its sales tax. The revenue from the increase would be supplemental funding for local community colleges, which have suffered from state funding cuts.

Florida lawmakers have already allowed Miami-Dade County to propose a sales tax to benefit Miami-Dade College. The Florida Budget and Taxation Reform Commission added Amendment #8 to the ballot to give the rest of Florida?s counties the same chance.

If a county eventually approves a community college sales tax, it would have a 5-year lifespan. After 5 years, voters would have the option of reauthorizing or allowing it to sunset.

What It Means:

A "YES" vote means: You would eventually support a sales tax for colleges.

A "NO" vote means: You oppose sales tax for colleges.