Voters have 13 statewide ballot issues to decide on in the Nov. 6 election. Did you know that the paragraph you see on the ballot is usually not the actual thing you are voting on?
You need to know the actual wording to make a good decision. It’s in the Blue Book that the state mails out, that you should have already gotten.
Case in point is Amendment 74 that requires compensation to any private property owner if local government regulations de-value said property, meaning interfere with profit maximization. This would affect both townies and rural residents. The paragraph on the ballot sounds nice: Get the evil government out of our lives and our property rights.
Beware. The actual wording of 74 will have you scratching your head and thinking, “Huh?? What the heck does this mean??” It was created by oil and gas interests so they could do anything anywhere. Of course, the wording doesn’t mention oil and gas interests. That could turn off some voters. So the amendment would apply to anything anyone wants to do anywhere.
Imagine the worst possible use that could go in next door, that could destroy your enjoyment of living on your land and sharply de-value your property. Factory hog farm? Toxic waste dump? Rural venue for motorcycle rallies, death metal concerts, dirt bike trails, and the like? A strip club? A pot shop? Out-of-state landowner who could care less about the community impacts? Out-of -tate corporation?
As a constitutional amendment, when glitches or unforeseen consequences arise, it usually takes another statewide vote to fix those. This is a lawyer’s dream. Beware.
Carole McWilliams
Bayfield
