The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that section 20 of article X of the state constitution requires that a ballot issue election be held on the first Tuesday in November of odd-numbered years; that the provisions of section 20 (2) and 20 (3) of said article X are unclear as to what issues can be submitted to a vote in the odd-year election; that section 20 of article X did not amend preexisting provisions of the state constitution on the initiative, the referendum, and the submission of constitutional amendments by the general assembly, and repeal or amendment of such provisions by implication is not presumed; that this legislation implements section 20 of article X of the state constitution, which article is entitled "Revenue" and concerns exclusively government revenue raising and appropriations; that section 20 of article X requires public votes on additional government taxes, spending, or debt; that the language of section 20 of article X evinces the public's desire to have more opportunity to vote on government tax, spending, and debt proposals; that a construction of section 20 of article X that limits local government electors' opportunities to vote on tax, spending, debt, or other proposals would be inconsistent with the ballot title of and the voters' intention in adopting said amendment; that state and local election officials need guidance as to how to administer the November 1993 election; and that, in view of the issues set out in this section, the general assembly should exercise its legislative power to resolve the ambiguities in section 20 of article X in a manner consistent with its terms.
Source: L. 93: Entire article added, p. 1993, § 1, effective June 8.