Exercise Your Right to Vote
The Pinecrest Village Council has authorized a referendum to be held in the month of March, 2019. The referendum will ask Pinecrest voters to vote FOR or AGAINST the issuance of $15,000,000 in ad velorem bonds to pay for water line extensions to give 739 residential property owners that are currently on well water access to County water. If approved, the Village will levy a property tax increase of .23 mills for Pinecrest property owners. A vote For Bonds may increase your property tax rate and a vote Against Bonds will not change your property tax rate. Check with Village documents and officials to be sure how the rate change affects you.
This is a Special Election and will be one of the easiest for voters. The County Elections Department will mail the ballot directly to each Village registered voter and the ballot will only have one question. To cast a ballot, the voter needs to:
- Open the ballot and follow the included instructions.
- Mark the oval spot on the ballot with a black or blue pen and put it back in the stamped, self-addressed envelope. Then sign the outside of the envelope, add your residential address, and drop it in the mail or take it to the County Elections Department at 2700 NW 87th Ave, Miami, FL 33172.
- The ballot must be returned before 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 for the vote to count. Results are expected to be made public later that evening.
The ballot will read as follows (according to the Elections Department):
Bond Referendum
Shall the Village of Pinecrest, issue limited ad valorem tax bonds not exceeding $15,000,000, maturing within twenty years from their issuance, bearing interest not exceeding the maximum allowable by law, and payable from a Village levy of 0.23 mills of ad valorem taxes in each year the bonds are outstanding to improve the public health and safety by constructing county-owned potable water and fire hydrant infrastructure for areas currently without access to those facilities?
- For Bonds
- Against Bonds
The ballot is controversial and has pro and con advocates. It is the voter’s responsibility to understand the question and be familiar with the issues. Florida Statute 101.031 states that each registered voter in Miami-Dade County should familiarize him or herself with the issues.
This vote may affect every property owner directly and it is your responsibility to know what you are voting for. You can find more information by going to the Village web site at https://www.pinecrest-fl.gov/ as well as attend one of the information sessions listed on the web page or visit the Pinecrest Municipal Center at 12645 Pinecrest Parkway. You can also read articles in local newspapers such as Miami’s Community Newspapers or go online at https://communitynewspapers.com/. In addition, you can go to the Facebook pages for both the Village and the Community Newspapers, speak with neighbors and friends who are knowledgeable about the subject and willing to share their thoughts and opinions and do all you can to be informed.
Ultimately, the decision will be yours. Please be sure to vote when you receive your ballot in the mail during the first week of March and return it before 7:00 pm March 26, 2019.
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