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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-81-42RESOLUTION NO. ~--~/-1~''~'/ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SEBASTIAN, APPROVING THE EFFORTS OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO SECURE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND AN ALTERNATE, GROW- ING SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGH A 1~ STATEWIDE INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX ANDURGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION EMBODYING THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. WI TNE S SETH WHEREAS, the burden of property taxation of Floridians is becoming increasingly heavy and unfair; WHEREAS, the property tax is an inadequate source of revenue for local governments facing exploding demands for public services in such essential areas as law enforcement, trans- portation and waste treatment and disposal; WHEREAS, in view of the exemptions for purchases of essential items such as food and medicine, the sales tax is more equitable than the property tax and is paid by all those who benefit from public services in Florida including tourists, who pay as much as 30% of the sales tax; WHEREAS, the sales tax is an appropriate means for relieving the property tax burden of Floridians and for providing local governments with a growing source of revenue; and WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities has established a Strike Force for Property Tax Relief for the purpose of securing property tax relief and state assistance to local governments through a 1¢ statewide increase in the sales tax. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Sebastian, Florida: SECTION 1. That the legislative program of the Florida League of Cities regarding property tax relief and state assistance to local governments be and hereby is approved, which legislative program is as follows: (A) A 1¢ statewide increase in the sales tax; An equitable division of the revenue from the 1¢ sales tax increase between the Revenue Sharing Trust Funds for Municipalities and the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for Counties; (c) Distributions to municipalities and counties from the Revenue Sharing Trust Funds in accord- ance with the existing formulas applicable to each; and (D) A mandatory, minimum reduction in property taxes from fiscal year 1981-1982 levels equal to the increase in revenues to local governments result- ing from the 1¢ sales tax legislation, multiplied by the percentage of the sales tax paid by Floridians. SECTION 2. That the legislature of the State of Florida be and hereby is urged and requested to enact legislation embodying the aforesaid property tax relief and local government assistance program of the Florida League of Cities. I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Resolution has been adopted this /~ day of 1981. Mayor~ City of S'e'b~s'tman ,_ATTE ST: ~it~ 'C 1 ~l~k -2-