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Thanks to you Amendment 6 was passed into law. Again thank you for all your support.

Allow Florida's Working Waterfronts to Survive —
Vote 'YES' on Amendment 6

On November 4th, 2008, voters will have the opportunity to preserve public access to Florida's extensive waterways and revitalize the state's marine industry by voting 'yes' on Amendment 6. Save Our Waterfronts (SOW) supports Amendment 6 and its commitment to protecting Florida's working waterfronts.

The Problem: Public access to Florida's waterfronts is being taxed out of existence as marine-related businesses are unable to afford higher property taxes. The current system of "highest and best use" taxation forces waterfront businesses to be appraised and taxed upon potential use of the land, such as high-end condo or waterfront resort, instead of the current use of the property.

The Solution - Amendment 6: Amendment 6 will allow Florida's marine industry to continue providing Floridians, tourists and future generations with public access to the state's waterways and will support the economy with billions of revenues every year.

Economic Impact

• Florida cannot afford to lose its marine industry, which contributes significantly more economic output than both Florida's citrus and cruise ship industries combined.
• Each year, Florida's marine industry contributes more than $18 billion to Florida's economy and provides 220,000 jobs.
• Unlike other businesses, the marine industry cannot relocate easily as they are dependent on direct access to the water
• Tourism is Florida's #1 industry and has a $57 billion impact on our state each year. Working waterfronts are a critical link connecting residents and tourists with Florida's abundant fish, wildlife and other natural resources by providing public access to the state's navigable waters.

What Would Amendment 6 Do?

Amendment 6 would provide a meaningful solution to this issue by providing tax incentives for landowners who wish to maintain their working waterfront properties and provide public access to Florida's waterways. The proposed amendment simply states the following marine venues and working waterfronts will be taxed at the property's current use:

• Marinas and docks open to the public for water access and recreational uses
• Public vessel launches into navigable inland and coastal waterways
• Commercial fishing facilities
• Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities
• Marine vessel construction and repair facilities

For More Information

For more information on Amendment 6 and Save Our Waterfronts, email us at info@saveourwaterfronts.org