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RESOLUTION NO. 92-R-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EDGEWATER, 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
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the voters of the cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Edgewater:
Section 1. That the City of Edgewater 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. That the City of Edgewater 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.
Section 4. All resolutions or parts of resolutions in
conflict herewith be and same are hereby repealed.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption.
After Motion by Councilman Hays and Second by Councilperson
Gillespie, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Mayor Tanya B. Wessler AYE
Councilman Kirk Jones AYE
Councilperson Louise Martin AYE
Councilperson NoraJane Gillespie AYE
Councilman Michael Hays AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 18th day of May, 1992.
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA
Tanya B. Hessler
Mayor
APPROVED FOR FORM & CORRECTNESS:
i
A
Kris a A. Storey
City Attorney
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