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Tequesta staff outlines what the village can and cannot say about property‑tax reform ballot measures
Summary
Staff advised the council on legal limits for municipal communications about ballot questions under Florida law, recommending objective, dated fact sheets and forums while warning that paid advocacy or targeted voter communications using public funds are prohibited.
Village staff briefed the council on June 29 about rules governing municipal communications related to ballot questions and recommended a factual, transparent outreach approach should the council want to inform residents about potential property‑tax reform impacts.
Staff summarized Florida law (Section 106.113) and guidance from the Florida League of Cities: municipalities may provide factual information, host public forums, post neutral materials on government channels and respond to public inquiries, but they may not use public funds for paid political advertisements or targeted communications that express advocacy for or against a ballot question once it is on the ballot. Staff recommended that any materials be dated and factual, avoid advocacy, and that elected officials who speak publicly make clear they are expressing personal views and not speaking for the village.
Staff described a set of low‑risk outreach options — fact sheets, a web‑based budget exercise to solicit resident priorities and community meetings — and suggested monitoring state activity and correcting demonstrably false statements about village finances with factual data. Council members agreed to continue preparing factual information and to consider surveys and town halls to solicit resident priorities before deciding on any advocacy or policy action.
