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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 12 12 Letter Re: Request for Legislative Delegation to Introduce 1981 Session of FL Legislature Joint Resolution December 12, 1980 LAKE MARY CCI1CGJS)CC Council of Local Governments in Seminole County LONGWOOD WINTER SPRINGS CASSELBERRY ALTAMONTE SPRINGS OVIEDO The Honorable Robert T. Hattaway Chairman, Seminole County Legislative Delegation P. O. Box 884 Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 Dear Bob: The Council of Local Governments in Seminole County in regular session on November 5, 1980, unanimously voted to request our Legislative Delegation to introduce to the 1981 session of the Florida Legislature a joint resolution requesting the Internal Revenue Service to make a ruling that franchise and utility fees levied by units of local government be treated similar to local property taxes for income tax purposes. This posi- tion is based on the premise that such fees are levied by units of local government on utilities utilizing public rights-of- way in lieu of extraordinary ad valorem taxes to equalize the burden for the cost to acquire and maintain said rights- of-way. It is our position that utilities receive extraordinary benefit over and above that derived by the motoring public from their ability to utiljze the rights-of-way and should con- tribute in additional proportions other than normal ad valorem taxes. Further, if they were not allowed to utilize the public rights-of-way, two points would become obvious: ; 1. Rights-of-way could be smaller and/or non-existent when not associated with roadways, and the cost of acquisition and maintenance less upon units of local government. 2. If utilities were required to utilize private property for their respective purposes, then they would have ad valorem taxes levied thereon. We respectfully request that our Delegation draft the appro- priate joint resolution and simultaneously introduce same in joint Houses of the Legislature in the upcoming session. We will work through our respective state associations repre- senting both municipalities and counties to provide broad base support for passage of the resolution. Our technical staffs The Honorable Robert T, Hattaway Page 2 December 12, 1980 will be happy to work with the appropriate staff personnel at the State level in refining the product to be presented; however, we do not have the expertise to draft a final document for introduction. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation in this matter. We look forward to working with you on this and other issues in the future. Sincerely, ~o! iL;.A~~~ Dolores L. Vickers Chairman DLV:ehc Encs.