2007-009 FLC Legislative IssuesRESOLUTION 2007-09
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROTECTING MUNICIPAL
AUTHORITY, ENSURING MUNICIPAL FISCAL STABILITY AND
SUPPORTING MUNICIPAL HOME RULE DURING THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 authority of municipalities located 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 municipalities
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 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH,
FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and incorporated herein.
Section 2. The Village Council of the Village of North Palm Beach, Florida urges Governor
Charlie Crist and members of the Florida Legislature to support legislation during the 2007
legislative session that:
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• 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;
• 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.
• Revises the existing distribution formula for local-option transportation taxes
imposed by counties to allow for a more equitable distribution to municipalities and
to provide for indexing oflocal-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;
and
• Preserves municipal authority to franchise cable and video services.
Section 2. That a copy of this resolution shall be provided to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate
President Ken Pruitt, House of Representatives Speaker Marco Rubio and members of the
Florida Legislature.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2007.
(Village Seal)
ATTEST:
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VILLAGE CLERK
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