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The Citrus County Housing Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, April 19, at 5 p.m. in Room 144 in the Lecanto Government Building.
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Senator Charles Dean (R) didn’t like people questioning his authority when he was Citrus County Sheriff. Now as our Senator people will question him.

Enough people raised questions this week that County Commissioner Anthony Schembri has decided to have the state look into the matter of Sen. Dean’s New Barn.

Schembri said of the action he was taking, “In response to the questions being raised about the agricultural exemptions on Sen. Charles Dean’s barn, given the issues that have come up, I am taking what I consider an appellate step, and I am asking the Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, Tom Pelham, to give us an opinion on the case.” County officials will forward details of the case to Pelham for review but do not expect an immediate response.

It’s about time that lawmakers found out that they are not above the law and can’t do whatever they like. If the state rules that this is not a barn but a residence I hope that they make him pay all of the fines that everyday citizens would have too.

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We are covering the Inauguration Ceremonies. Please visit the main site to see streaming live coverage on the web.

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Here in Citrus County we have 6 constitutional amendmants to consider when we vote on November 4th. These tend to be worded so normal people do not understand them. I am posting them all here now so you can read over them. Be sure to fully understand each one as best as you can before voting. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions from someone if you need help.

NO. 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE I, SECTION 2
Declaration of Rights Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real
property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.

NO. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE I, NEW SECTION
Florida Marriage Protection Amendment This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized. The direct financial impact this amendment will have on state and local government revenues and expenditures cannot be determined, but is expected to be minor.

NO. 3
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4
ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Changes and Improvements Not Affecting the Assessed Value of Residential Real Property Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property’s value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Effective upon adoption, repeals

the existing renewable energy source device exemption no longer in effect.

NO. 4
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 28
Property Tax Exemption of Perpetually Conserved Land; Classification and Assessment of Land Used for
Conservation Requires Legislature to provide a property tax exemption for real property encumbered by perpetual conservation easements or other perpetual conservation protections, defined by general law. Requires Legislature to provide for classification and assessment of land used for conservation purposes,
and not perpetually encumbered, solely on the basis of character or use. Subjects assessment benefit to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions established by general law. Applies to property taxes beginning in 2010.

NO. 6
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4 ARTICLE XII,
NEW SECTION
Assessment of Working Waterfront Property Based Upon Current Use Provides for assessment based upon use of land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes; land used for vessel launches into waters that are navigable and accessible to the public; marinas and drystacks that are open to the public; and water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities and their support activities, subject to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions specified by general law.

NO. 8
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9
Local Option Community College Funding
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.

COUNTY REFERENDUM
May the Board of County Commissioners relocate the principal office of any of the County Officers outside the city limits of the City of Inverness but within an expanded County Seat?

Early voting begins today for the 2008 Presidential Elections. Early voting is open Monday through Saturday October 20th through November 1st.

• Early voting provides the voter an opportunity to vote in person prior to Election Day.

• Early voting begins 15 days prior to each election.

• Any qualified voter may vote in person at any of our designated early vote sites. (This is contrary to Election Day voting when you are required to vote in the precinct where you reside.)

• Early voting results will not be released until after 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

• Bring a photo and signature ID to vote at an early vote site. (Lack of photo and signature ID will require a voter to cast a provisional ballot. F.S. 101.043(2))

Early Vote Locations:

Citrus County Courthouse

110 N. Apopka Ave.

Inverness, FL 34450

Hours 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Inverness City Hall

212 W. Main St.

Inverness, FL 34450

Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Central Ridge Library

425 W. Roosevelt Blvd.

Beverly Hills, FL 34465

Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Crystal River Elections Office

801 SE Hwy. 19

Crystal River, FL 34429

Hours 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Homosassa Public Library

4100 S. Grandmarch Ave.

Homosassa, FL 34446

Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

While Congress was contemplating the $700 billion Bailout package I wrote to our Congresswoman, Ginny Brown-Waite expressing my anger about the package. Today I have received a response from her in regards to my comments, and I wanted to share them with you. Please read her letter below and comment on them here when you are done. Remember she is running for re-election this year while you read it.

I was unable to attend the Political forum held at the Armory in Crystal River. I was hoping to go and report back to everyone what the different candidates said. If any of my readers was able to attend, please click on the comments above and let us know what was said.

Thank you,

The House of Represenitves have passed the Wall Street Bailout bill 263 to 171.  This is a sad day in our country that the middle class has to bail out the wealthy upper class. They got themselves into this mess and they should have figured out how to get themselves out.

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