HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-068RESOLUTION NO. 02-68
A RESOLUTION OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY,
FLORIDA PETITIONING THE LEGISLATURE TO ADHERE
TO ARTICLE 7 SECTION 18 (a) OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, REQUIRING THE
LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO
FUND EXPENDITURES FOR PROGRAMS REQUIRED BY
STATE STATUTE.
WHEREAS, "unfunded mandates" are governmental actions required of Counties by
state law without adequate funding resources; and
WHEREAS, Counties are continuously forced to adjust local service priorities, and raise
local taxes and user fees to pay for unfunded state mandated programs; and
WHEREAS, Counties are forced to pass these increased costs of 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 the 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 continues to shift program funding to the Counties without regard to adequate
funding; and
WHEREAS, the priorities and programs of local citizens of Counties have often been
curtailed when limited local funds have to be diverted to pay for a State mandated program; 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, mandates drain the financial lifeblood from County govemments and
cripple their ability to adequately deliver the fundamental services required by law; and
WHEREAS, mandates also compromise a county's ability to provide discretionary
services requested by the local community.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
St. Lucie County opposes unfunded mandates and urges the State of Florida to
adhere to Article 7 Section 18 (a) of the Constitution of the State of Florida,
which requires the Legislature to appropriate funds sufficient to fund expenditures
for programs required by State Statutes; and to exercise greater caution in
imposing new statutory and regulatory burdens on the fiscal resources of local
governments through enactment of unfimded mandates.
This Board opposes any State actions that limit the ability of local elected officials
to make fiscal and public policy decisions for the citizens they represent.
After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Doug Coward
Vice Chairman Cliff Barnes
Commissioner Frame Hutchinson
Commissioner John D. Bruhn
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis
AYE
AYE
AYE
Absent
Absent
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED TItlS 26xu day of February, 2002.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
C~AN
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
CORRECTNESS
By:
~'~ ~'ORNEY