HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 92-08
RESOLUTION NO. 92-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, 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 city of Ocoee:
section 1. That the city of Ocoee 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 Ocoee 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 this X day of ~, 1992.
APPROVED:
.
ATTEST:
~~rk
FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY
THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA.
APPROVED AS TO FO~ LEGALITY
this ~ day of , 1992
:~ t?;J~ ~JJJ
city Attorney
APPROVED BY THE OCOEE CITY
COMMISSION AT A MEETING
HELD ON MA'I , 1992
UNDER AGENDA ITEM NO. ~
~