HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-031RESOLUTION NO. 03-31
A RE.SOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO FULLY FUND
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROP'ECTION'S BEACH EROSION CONTROL
PRO. ECT PRIORITY LIST FOR FY03-04 FOR
$30 MILLION AS PROVIDED FOR IN
CHA?TERS 161 AND 201, FLORIDA
STATUTES; AND RESPECTIVELY
REQ-JESTING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO
AMIEND EXISTING LAW WHICH
ALLOCATES $30 MILLION ANNUALLY IN
CERr'AIN DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAX
REVENUES TO THE ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION TRUST
FUN) FOR PURPOSES OF BEACH
PRES ERVATION AND REPAIR
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made
the following determinations:
1. Florida's number one tourist attraction is its beaches; and beach-related tourism has a
$41.6 billion impact on the state's economy.
2. Beaches contribute over $1 billion in tourist-related sales tax revenues annually; and
442,000 jobs are created by beach-related tourism, with an $8 billion payroll resulting from
additional spending related to Florida's beaches.
3. Over half of Florida's 825 miles of sandy beaches are experiencing erosion, with 333
miles designated by the Department of Environmental Protection as critically-eroded.
4. The Florida Legislature, pursuant to Chapter 161, Florida Statutes, has declared beach
erosion to be a serious threat to the economic and general welfare of the state and its residents; and
has further declared it to be a necessary responsibility to preserve Florida's beaches and make
provisions for beach nourishment projects.
5. The Florida Legislature, in 1998, pursuant to Section 161.091, and Section 201.15 (11),
provided that designated funding of $30 million annually shall be deposited in the Ecosystem
Management and Restoration Trust Fund, and that documentary stamp tax revenues shall be the
source of that funding.
6. This $30 million allocation has enabled Florida to develop a consistent, adequately-
funded, priority-driven, long range management program to address critical erosion.
7. This program represents a cost-effective intergovernmental parmership which leverages
a dollar for dollar local gowmment match, and up to 65% of the total project cost from federal
SOurCes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. This Board hereby strongly urges the Florida Legislature to fully fund the Department of
Environmental Protection's ~each erosion control project priority list for FY03-04 for $30 million
as provided for in Chapters '_ 61 and 201, Florida Statutes.
2. This Board hereby further respectively requests that the Florida Legislature oppose any
legislative efforts to amend existing law which allocates $30 million annually in certain documentary
stamp tax revenues to the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund for purposes of beach
preservation and repair.
3. The County Administrator is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the
Honorable Governor Jeb Bush; Senator Ken Pruitt; Senator Charlie Clary; Representative Bruce
Kyle; Representative Stan IVayfield; and Representative Jerry Paul.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows
Chairman Cliff Barnes AYE
Vice-Chairman Paula A. Lewis AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE
Commissioner Doug Coward AYE
Commissioner John D. Bruhn AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 4th day of February, 2003.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
DEPUTY CL
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND
RRENESS:COUNTi~Y