HB 7063 Summary: Local Government Fiscal Responsibility

• Requires 60% voter approval (instead of simple majority) for referenda on tourist development taxes, tourist impact taxes, children's services taxes, and most local discretionary sales surtaxes; restricts these referenda to general elections only.

• Prohibits counties and municipalities that have levied millages above the rolled-back rate in the prior 3 years from enacting, extending, or increasing various local option taxes including tourist taxes, business taxes, fuel taxes, and sales surtaxes.

• Requires voter approval by 60% supermajority for any new tax-supported debt with terms exceeding 5 years; allows emergency exceptions with 4/5 board vote if approved at special elections.

• Revises school district millage election procedures to require 60% voter approval and restricts millage elections to general elections only (previously allowed any time).

• Creates new "Local Government Fiscal Responsibility Act" establishing debt definitions and restrictions on local government taxation and debt issuance to promote fiscal responsibility.

• Effective date: October 1, 2018.