2007-01 Requests to Legislative DelegationRESOLUTION NO. 07 -01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, URGING
MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THE
FOLLOWING ISSUES DURING THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHEREAS, municipal self- determination and local self government are constantly under
attack from a variety of public and private interests; and
WHEREAS, numerous counties have recently proposed revisions to their charters that
would adversely impact the Home -Rule powers of municipalities within those
counties; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Florida's municipalities have experienced negative impacts to
infrastructure, housing stock and employment base from a series of natural
disasters; higher than expected increases in the cost of building products; double
digit increases in the cost of property insurance; and inequities in the existing
property -tax system; and
WHEREAS, Florida's continuing population increase has presented a challenge to cities
struggling to meet the infrastructure needs required to accommodate new growth
and development without an infrastructure revenue source dedicated to
municipalities; and
WHEREAS, various proposed revisions to the property -tax system would have substantial
adverse impacts for all municipalities in Florida should they be adopted; and
WHEREAS, Florida's municipalities are dependent on other governmental entities for
financial stability and under the current system the state, counties, and school
districts, control all funding sources authorized for implementing capital
improvements and complying with concurrency requirements; and
WHEREAS, Governor Charlie Crist and Florida's House and Senate leaders have an
opportunity to address the unique concerns of municipalities during the upcoming
2007 legislative session.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved before the City Council for the City of Okeechobee,
Florida; presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and passed by majority vote
of the City Council; and properly executed by the Mayor or designee, as Chief
Presiding Officer for the City:
Section 1. That the City of Okeechobee urges Governor Charlie Crist and
members of the Florida Legislature to support legislation during the
2007 legislative session that:
Restores and maintains municipal Home -Rule authority for
municipalities located within charter counties;
Supports a tax structure that is fair and equitable and is competitively
neutral and allows municipalities the flexibility to provide adequate
services in their communities.
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INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED in regular session this 16 day of January, 2007.
Section 2.
Preserves the dedicated documentary stamp fees as a funding source
for the State and Local Government Housing Trust Fund (Sadowski
Trust Fund), eliminates the cap placed on fund distribution, and
prohibits any of these trust fund dollars from being diverted to the
General Revenue Fund.
Provides a comprehensive and uniform workers' compensation system
for all municipal employees, regardless of employee classification, at
a reasonable cost to employers.
Provides a dedicated and recurring source of revenue, including
municipal local- option fuel taxes, rental -car surcharges, or other taxes
or fees, for municipalities to fund transportation projects such as TRIP,
urban arterial and other projects. Furthermore, the existing distribution
formula for local- option transportation taxes imposed by a county
should be revised to allow for a more equitable distribution to
municipalities and provides for indexing of local- option fuel taxes.
Requires legislative authorization prior to the Florida Department of
Transportation removing or delaying any project that is contained in the
FDOT Five -Year Work Plan.
Preserves municipal authority to franchise cable and video services.
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk
John R. Cook, City Attorney
That a copy of this Resolution shall be provided to Governor Charles
Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, House of Representatives Speaker
Marco Rubio and members of the Florida Legislature.
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
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James E. Kirk, Mayor