North Port placing city charter amendment on ballot

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WWSB) - With nearly 90,000 residents and recently celebrating it’s 65th birthday, the city of North Port is on the move and growing. But some city leaders said language in the city’s charter is outdated and needs to be amended. This week, city commissioners approved a November 5th Referendum that will ask voters to amend the city charter to allow North Port Commission the ability to issue debt without asking voters first.

Officials said Wednesday that current language on the books means that each time the city needs to ask for money for large improvement projects, it must prepare a voter referendum and gain majority approval from North Port voters in general elections that are held every two years. City leaders said that can delay addressing emergencies or critical needs, including continued clean up and restoration in the wake of hurricanes Ian and Idalia. “The pay as you go method for projects may’ve worked at one time, but no longer,” said North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher.

Fletcher said North Port is the only city in Florida that has a charter that prohibits borrowing money or incurring debt without voter approval. He added due to current restrictions, the city has missed out on timelines for state or federal loans that offered low to no interest rates.

If it passes in November, the move will allow the issue of debt for such responses as declared emergencies or disasters. For public health or safety projects, up to $15 million dollars per project would be included in the updated language, according to a North Port spokesperson.




https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/07/28/north-port-placing-city-charter-amendment-ballot/