Tallahassee voters will get to decide whether to add an ethics code to the city’s charter in November. The city commission approved the charter amendments language Wednesday, less than a week after a judge ruled the language was okay.
Some members of the Tallahassee city commission, including Mayor Marks, have expressed concerns about the cost to taxpayers—especially a provision giving city refunds to political donors. The city had also challenged the ballot language, claiming it was misleading, but a circuit judge upheld the wording last week.
The proposed city charter amendment caps campaign contributions to city candidates at $250, a substantial decrease from the current $1000 level. It also creates an appointed independent ethics officer and volunteer panel of ethics advisors. The city had already planned to hire an ethics officer who answers to the city attorney.
The proposed ethics board would investigate complaints and level penalties against officials. It would also staff and run mandatory ethics training, and an anti-corruption hotline.
The charter amendment is backed by a coalition calling itself Citizens for Ethics Reform. It includes the Florida League of Women Voters and the local Tea Party Network.
