1990-09 Support for Amendment 3RESOLUTION 90-9
• A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, OKEECHOBEE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING ITS CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3 ON THE NOVEMBER 1990
BALLOT LIMITING UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES ON CITIES AND
COUNTIES.
WHEREAS, since 1981, the Florida Legislature has placed
over 330 unfunded mandates upon cities and counties in Florida with
over 86 percent having an undetermined fiscal impact on cities and
counties; and
WHEREAS, "unfunded mandates" are governmental actions
required of cities and counties by state law without adequate
funding resources; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties are continuously forced to
adjust local service priorities, and raise local taxes and user
fees to pay for such unfunded state mandated programs; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Constitution preempts all taxing
sources to the state (except ad valorem property taxes) it becomes
irresponsible for the state government to require and mandate
programs to other governments without sharing the fiscal
responsibility and political consequences of their actions; and
WHEREAS, there can be no certainty and predictability in
the growth planning process if the state can continue to mandate
new and expensive programs without regard to adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, the priorities and programs of local citizens of
cities and counties have often been curtailed when limited local
funds have to be diverted to pay for a state mandated program; and
WHEREAS, the state constitution "preempts" all taxing
powers to the state (other than local property taxes) and the state
has been unwilling to allow sufficient local discretionary taxing
powers directly to municipalities and has refused to adjust unfair
and antiquated formula allocations of revenue-sharing programs; and
WHEREAS, unfunded mandates are not fair to the local
property owner or the locally elected official who is trying to
address local priorities and problems with a limited amount of
financial resources; and
WHEREAS, during the 1988 Legislative Session nearly 100
members of the Legislature cosigned or supported a proposed
constitutional amendment to limit the Legislature's ability to
mandate programs and costs to city and county governments; and
WHEREAS, during the 1989 Legislative Session a proposed
amendment to the constitution was passed to give Florida citizens
an opportunity to vote in 1990 on a proposal that would limit
unfunded state Legislative mandates on cities and counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of
Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida, call upon all citizens of
Okeechobee to become aware of the seriousness of unfunded mandates
• and to be prepared to support the amendment of Florida state
constitution on the matter that will appear on the ballot in
November.
Section 2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to
• the Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners and the School
Board and each body is requested to adopt similar resolutions and
positions so their views may be available to every citizen in
Florida.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of September, 1990.
ATTEST:
Bonnie S. Thomas, City Clerk
•
K
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
Oakland hapm , Mayor