Amendment 8 has pros and cons but ultimately more of the latter, according to this analysis (go to page 26) from the limited-government devotees at the James Madison Institute.

The only education-related amendment left on next month's ballot, Amendment 8 would allow local governments to levy a local option sales tax for local community colleges. JMI notes Florida community colleges "have been praised as the most cost-effective element" in the state's education system and says local oversight of increased funding would place them "on notice to spend the money prudently and efficiently."

But, the analysis continues, the amendment could cause problems for big-ticket retailers in counties that pass the tax, offering buyers incentive to shop elsewhere. And, in the case of community colleges that attract students from around the state, "skeptics might well wonder how long it would be before local taxpayers begin to ask why they are ‘subsidizing' non-local students from counties where the community college sales tax is not being collected."

For other pros and cons, see this previous Gradebook post.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter