HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2007-06 Legislative Session
RESOLUTION NUMBER 2007-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS,
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 BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City of Winter Springs 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;
. 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.
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.
ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a
Regular Meeting assembled on the 22nd day of January, 2007.
JOHN F. BUSH, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANDREA LORENZO-LUACES, CITY CLERK
Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for
the City of Winter Springs, Florida only:
ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney
Resolution Number 2007-06
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