Voters face wide ranging questions from seafood to pets

ATLANTA - Georgia voters had 11 questions on the ballot Tuesday, including one to create a program for the voluntary sterilization of cats and dogs, to be funded by fees from the sale of special license plates.<br> <br> Voters statewide will say yes or no to six proposed constitutional amendments, including one that would give tax breaks on property used for landing and processing seafood.<br> <br> Among the other amendments is one that makes people who are in default on taxes ineligible to hold an appointed or elected office.<br> <br> Another allows local government to impose a higher tax rate on property that is blighted. According to the proposed change, once the property is cleaned up, the increased tax could be reduced so owners could recoup the cost of fixing up their land.<br> <br> Besides the amendments are five proposed changes to state law, labeled A through E, on the ballot. They don&#39;t amend the Constitution, but because they grant property tax exemptions they require statewide voter approval.<br> <br> Referendum A, for example, broadens the group eligible for a $10,000 exemption from school taxes. Currently eligible are those age 62 whose family income does not exceed $10,000. This would exempt retirement income from the earnings test for eligibility.<br>