HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-074RESOLUTION NO. 01-74
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CHANGES
IN THE PROPOSED 2001-2002 JUVENILE
JUSTICE BUDGET BY GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE COUNTIES TO
SHOULDER THE ENTIRE EXPENSES OF
HOUSING JUVENILES BEFORE THEIR
CRIMINAL CASES ARE RESOLVED; AND
FURTHER OPPOSING SHIFTING FUNDING
FROM THE STATE TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH NON-ADJUDICATED
JUVENILES
WltEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made
the following determinations:
1. Governor Jeb Bush's proposed 2001-2002 budget includes the addition of 1,801
specialized beds that will cost fifty-four million dollars.
2~ In an effort to add the new beds, but not increase the budget for the Department of
Juvenile Justice and aid in reducing their budget by 4.8%, the Governor proposes saving sixty-three
million dollars statewide by requiring counties to shoulder the entire expense of housing juveniles
before their criminal cases are resolved.
3~ Approximately 70% of all juveniles sitting in detention centers across Florida have cases
pending.
4. The State also pays eight million dollars for pretrial house arrest for juveniles and four
million nine hundred thousand ($4,900,000.00) dollars to run twenty facilities that divert youth
offenders! from the courts.
5. Under Governor Bush's plan, the counties will be responsible for these costs. This wotfld
result in ~t. Lucie County paying approximately one million six hundred thousand ($1,600,000.00)
dollars in funds that are not currently budgeted.
6. In addition, the Governor's proposed budget also includes shifting funding from the State
to local governments for the costs associated with non-adjudicated juveniles. Currently St. Lucie
County receives almost two hundred eight thousand ($208,000.00) dollars per year from the State
for the Juvenile Assessment Center, and shirr'rog its funding to St. Lucie County would be a
tremendous financial burden.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. This Board opposes the changes in the proposed 2001-2002 Juvenile Justice Budget by
Govern°r Bush which would require counties to shoulder the entire expense of housing juverfiles
before their criminal cases are resolved.
2~ This Board further opposes the Governor's proposed budget which includes shifting
funding from the State to local governments for the costs associated with non-adj udicated juveniles.
3! The County Administrator is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to the
Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of Florida; Anna Cowin, Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary; and Randy Ball, Chair of the House
Criminal !Justice Appropriations Committee.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Cha'rrman Frame Hutchinson
Vice-Chairman Doug Coward
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis
Commissioner Cliff Barnes
Commissioner Jolm D. Brutm
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 13t~ day of March, 2001.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
APPROVED AS TO FOiUg[ A~~