1981-25 1 Cent Sales TaxRESOLUTION NO. 81-25
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE APPROV-
ING THE EFFORTS OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO SECURE PROPERTY
TAX RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND AN ALTERNATE, GROWING
• SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGH A 10 STATEWIDE
INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX AND URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
ENACT LEGISLATION EMBODYING THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the burden of property taxation on Floridians is becoming increasingly
heavy and unfair;
WHEREAS, the property tax is an inadequate source of revenue for local governments
facing exploding demands for public services in such essential areas as law enforce-
ment, transportation and waste treatment and disposal;
WHEREAS, in view of the exemptions for purchases of essential items such as food
and medicine, the sales tax is more equitable than the property tax and is paid
by all those who benefit from public services in Florida including tourists, who
pay as much as 300 of the sales tax;
WHEREAS, the sales tax is an appropriate means for relieving the property tax bur-
den of Floridians and for providing local governments with a growing source of
revenue; and
WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities has established a Strike Force for Property
Tax Relief for the purpose of securing property tax relief and state assistance
to local governments through a 10 statewide increase in the sales tax.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
SECTION 1. That the legislative program of the Florida League of Cities regarding
property tax relief and state assistance to local governments be and hereby is
approved, which legislative program is as follows:
(A) A 1fi statewide increase in the sales tax;
(B) An equitable division of the revenue from the lj� sales tax increase be-
tween the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for Municipalities and the Revenue
Sharing Trust Fund for Counties;
(C) Distributions to municipalities and counties from the Revenue Sharing
Trust Funds in accordance with the existing formulas applicable to each;
and
(D) A mandatory, minimum reduction in property taxes from fiscal year 1981-
1982 levels equal to the increase in revenues to local governments result-
ing from the 10 sales tax legislation, multiplied by the percentage of
the sales tax paid by Floridians.
SECTION 2. That the legislature of the State of Florida be and hereby is urged
and requested to enact legislation embodying the aforesaid property tax relief and
local government assistance program of the Florida League of Cities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Resolution has been duly adopted this 8th day of December ,
1981.
MAYOR
ATTEST: r
• _ CITY CLERK