City Announcement - "Let Us Vote" Charter Amendment

The "LET US VOTE" Ballot Referendum (also known as "LUVPAC") has been officially certified and placed on the ballot for the November 2008 General Election by vote of the Board of County Commissioners. It centers on a local government’s right to "Home Rule" and is based on a principle of a Dual Referendum initiative currently underway. The City of Lake Worth City Commission supports this initiative, as do all 38 municipalities in Palm Beach County and provides the following information on this referendum question.

Currently, all Charter Amendments are approved countywide. Under the new proposal, amendments that change municipal service, function, power or authority would ALSO have to be approved by voters in that municipality. In other words, when a County Charter Amendment seeks to change a City's services, power or authority, that City's voters should be allowed to accept or reject that Amendment.

Essentially, each city's voters would have the right to "opt out" of countywide rules that are not in the best interest of their community. This would allow local voters to make decisions for their community rather than Palm Beach County enacted rules and regulations that are imposed in a “one-size-fits-all” manner by voters countywide. This change would affect any issue that might be the subject of a future Charter change. For instance, building appearance rules and park regulations should always be decided locally. Big Box bans and historical preservation desires differ from city to city. As a resident of Lake Worth, you as a registered voter should have your say. For example, Loxahatchee Groves is a very different place than Boca Raton, just as Jupiter or Delray Beach differs from Lake Worth. Each of these city’s voters should be able to set their own standards and maintain their communities as they wish.

It’s important to note that voting for this initiative takes nothing away from residents who live in unincorporated sections of Palm Beach County. Everything remains the same for them – the only change is that residents of our cities, towns and villages will have a greater say in what they want within their communities.

Adoption of this Charter Amendment will ensure that a City's services, power, function and authority rest in the hands of that City's residents, not voters countywide. The certified question will appear on ballots as indicated below:

Ballot Title

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

Ballot Language

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?

____ Yes

____ No

Visit the LET US VOTE website for more information.