HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-144RESOLUTION NO. 89 - 144
A RESOLUTION OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING
FLORIDA CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT 13 ON THE NOVEMBER 1990 BALLOT LIMITING
UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES ON CITIES AND COUNTIES
WHEREAS, since 1981, the Florida Legislature has placed
288 unfunded mandates upon cities and counties in Florida
with over 86 percent having an undetermined fiscal impact on
cities and counties; and
WHEREAS, "unfunded mandates" are governmental actions
required of cities and counties by state law without
adequate funding resources; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties are continuously forced to
adjust local service priorities, and raise local taxers and
user fees to pay for such unfunded state mandated programs:
and
WHEREAS, cities and counties are forced to pass these
increased costs for delivery of state -mandated programs to
the citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Constitution preempts all taxing
sources to the state (except ad valorem property taxes) it
becomes irresponsible for state government to require and
mandate programs to other governments without sharing the
fiscal responsibility and political consequences of their
actions; and
WHEREAS, there can be no certainty and predictability
in the growth planning process if the state can continue to
mandate new and expensive programs without regard to
adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, the priorities and programs of local citizens
of cities and counties have often been curtailed when
limited local funds have to be diverted to pay for a state
mandated program; and
WHEREAS, the state constitution "preempts" all taxing
powers to the state (other than local property taxes) and
the state has been unwilling to allow sufficient local
discretionary taxing powers directly to municipalities and
has refused to adjust unfair and antiquated formula
allocations of revenue sharing programs; and
WHEREAS, unfunded mandates are not fair to the local
property owner or the locally elected official who is trying
to address local priorities and problems with a limited
amount of financial resources; and
WHEREAS, during the 1988 Legislative Session nearly 100
members of the Legislature co-signed or supported a proposed
constitutional amendment to limit the Legislature's ability
to mandate programs and costs to city and county
governments; and
WHEREAS, during the 1989 Legislative Session a proposed
amendment to the constitution was passed to give Florida
citizens an opportunity to vote in 1990 on a proposal that
would limit unfunded state legislative mandates on cities
and counties;