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HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES 92/03RESOLUTION NO. 92 -3 A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR VOTER CONTROL OF CITY TAXES. WHEREAS, the tax sources of cities are strictly regulated and limited by the State Constitution and /or the State Legislature; and WHEREAS, the Legislature has required cities to implement and comply with inequitable property tax procedures, to operate with narrow and restrictive tax sources, and to suffer increasingly inequitable formula allocations of state shared revenues; and WHEREAS, the severe financial problems facing Florida's city governments are well documented and remain unchallenged; and WHEREAS, the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission studies show that cities have exhausted most of their discretionary taxing capacity and will be confronted with substantial financial shortfalls during this decade; and WHEREAS, the cities of Florida have consistently and diligently sought expanded and flexible taxing capacity from the Florida Legislature without success; and WHEREAS, federally shared dollars with cities have all but disappeared and remain a low national priority; and WHEREAS, previous decades have provided major shifts for program costs from the federal and state to city governments through innumerable unfunded mandates; and WHEREAS, cities' citizens should be provided an opportunity to evaluate and implement the tax sources most appropriate to their community needs; and WHEREAS, many citizens believe they no longer can influence public decisions and believe the political process deprives them of strength and influence; and WHEREAS, most citizens believe they should have a direct say in how they are taxed; and WHEREAS, this is an appropriate time to review the unlimited power of the Legislature to authorize and control all municipal taxing policy and carefully consider returning taxing authority to the voters of the cities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida will support a Constitutional amendment that would provide for each city government to secure the taxing powers their voters authorize by allowing city officials to design an ongoing tax structure that is compatible with their individual community goals and place it on the ballot for their voters to express their preference for the existing tax structure or this new proposed tax structure. Section 2. The Town of Gulf Stream will work with all cities in Florida and the Florida League of Cities to ensure that this Constitutional amendment is placed on the general election ballot in November of 1992. Section 3. That copies of this resolution be sent to all members of our legislative delegation. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida at the regular meeting of the Town Commission on this 13th day of July , 1992. Mayor (SEAL) ATTEST: i�& Z- z Town Clerk Resol. # 92 -3 06 Commissioner /a/,�, d Co issioner �� Commissioner zyndwy •�, Commissioner