Constitutional cap on local spending sought

TALLAHASSEE — A coalition of small-government advocates on Tuesday launched an effort to place a constitutional cap on local government growth on the 2010 ballot.

The cap would limit spending to inflation plus population, or about 5 percent per year. Cities and counties could break the limit with voter approval.

To get the proposal on the ballot, supporters will need more than 600,000 signatures.

The Legislature has placed a cap on local government spending, but many cities and counties (40 percent, according to the coalition, which includes the National Federation of Independent Businesses) voted to exceed that or raised fees to make up shortfalls. The proposal attempts to prevent that by placing the authority with voters.