3/2/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Fr fi + rl, •i J� P,1„t SKU imposed last year as a part of the Local Government One -Half Cent Sales Tax Legislation. The proposed amendment would remove dependent special districts and Municipal:•Service Taxing Units (MSTU's) which have been created at the request of the residents of those districts from the aggregate'millage cap. Collier counties special the unin which oo County believes this is a vital regardless of what extent they districts on the MSTU mechanism. issue for all Florida may be using dependent Service provision to county responsibility by the aggregate We trust that stands. In RiverCounty_willcome to feel likewise. The provisions at the Local Government One -Half Cent Sales Tax Act of 1982 placed an absolute cap on the amount which counties could raise from ad valorem tax sources. Moreover, the Act "aggregated” for the first time all ad valorem tax levies; regardless of from what area of the county they are being raised, from what tax base was supporting them, or for what particular purpose they were being used. The circumstances of each county determined how dramatically this cap was felt. In Collier County we have 38 of these districts which provide basic municipal sery ces such as street lighting, fire control, and community better nt. Previously, these had all "stood alone" in their respective tax impact: the effect of the tax levy in any of these MSTU's had no effect on any other or on the general countywide levies. However, under the cap as it presently stands they now effectively limit each other and the countywide levies. One dollar levied in any of these MSTU's is one less dollar available for any other MSTU and, most importantly, is one less dollar available to fund general countywide services. Your county may now, or in the near future, be forced to choose between services to your unincorporated area and the general countywide services. The essential issue is one of freedom and flexibility for the county to allow and provide for these basic municipal type services. In our own instance, and we have found it to be true of other counties, the existence of these districts has by and large come through the direct request of residents of the areas served. Thus these are services which our citizens need and desire; most importantly, they have been willing to tax themselves to,gbtain them. We would appreciate yourselves, and/or your staff, reviewing the enclosed Resolution and report. It is Collier County's hope that Indian River County will join us in this effort to remove dependent special districts from the cap. Our Board is asking Indian River County's help in the form of a Resolution calling on your local State Legislative Delegation to support this amendment. We would also ask that you contract John Thomas, Executive Director of the State Association of County Commissioners to indicate your interest. Finally, in order to aid in coordination of lobbying, we would appreciate a copy of the Resolution and any other official action Indian River County takes regarding this proposed legislation. Henry Hill, Productivity and Budget Coordinator, of our staff, or I would be available at your leisure to answer any further questions you may have. Our phone number is (813) 774-8383. On behalf of the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, I would like to thank Indian River County for its assistance in this effort. Sincerely, 4 t4ary=Frances Kruse INrman