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6-A THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, Tuesday, March 9, 176- ,


IFate Of Water Tax
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SBalloting Unknown

TALLAHASSEE (AP) Officials are .reluctant to
predict the outcome of the vote today on a water-tax
constitutional amendment which supporters say. is a...
simple question and opponents say is complex.
Gov. Reubin Askew and Sen. Philip Lewis. D-West
Palm Beach. who have been leading the campaign for
the amendment, said therewas no way to tell how the
vote would go., ,... ,..', .

"THE ONLY reason it stands a chance is because it
won't affect the tax of 65 per cent of the people." said
Sen. Kenneth MacKay, D-Ocala, an opponent.
Overshadowed by campaigning of presidential can-
'.didates. the amendment has drawn little attention from
voters around the state.
The amendment would allow a property tax for
water management purposes of up to one mill $1 per
$1.000 property value in four water management dis-
*. tricts and up to .05 mill-in the Northwest Florida ais-<
trict. which is west of Monticello in the Panhandle.
The South and Southwest Florida Districts, which
were established before the 1968 constitution, already'
Shave taxing powers -'South Florida up to onemill and
Southwest up to 1.35.... .. ... *

A COURT RULED that they would lose their exemp-
tion from the constitutional restriction on taxing if their
boundaries are shifted as required by the 1972 Land
And Water Management Act.
The 1975 legislature postponed reorganization of the
districts from July 1. 1975. to Dec. 31, 1976. and put the
amendment on the presidential primary ballot. Legisla-
tors say another delay is likely if the amendment fails.
In his pitch for the amendment. Askew says the
reorganization is essential to divide water management
according to streams and not political boundaries.
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