Resolution 117-2003
Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION NO. 117 -2003
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE PORTION OF GOVERNOR
BUSH'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004 BUDGET THAT
ELIMINATES THE STATE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT HOUSING TRUST FUND AS DEDICATED FUNDING
SOURCES, AND REDUCES BY APPROXIMATELY $94.5 MILLION THE
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Monroe County has an obligation to protect the health, safety and welfare
of the general public, including the housing needs of its current and anticipated
populations; and
WHEREAS, housing assistance for lower income families is dependent upon sufficient
housing assistance from federal and state funding programs; and
WHEREAS, Governor Bush has released his proposed Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Budget
that eliminates the State Housing Trust Fund (providing the majority of the funds for
programs such as the State Apartment Incentive Loan [SAIL]) and the Local Government
Housing Trust Fund (providing the majority of the funds for programs such as the State
Housing Partnership Initiative Program [SHIP]) as dedicated funding sources, and reduces
by approximately $94.5 million the funds available for these and other affordable housing
programs; and
WHEREAS, appropriations for housing programs are proposed from general revenue
at approximately $94.5 million less than the amount that would be available from the
dedicated revenue in the trust funds; and
WHEREAS, under the proposed budget SHIP would lose approximately $62.7 million
and the state programs (SAIL and others) would lose approximately $31.8 million; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's proposal, if approved by the Legislature, will result in the
elimination of the dedicated revenue source for affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act of 1992 deliberately used
the documentary stamp tax as its revenue source because of its nexus with the
development of affordable housing and because the source of funding needed to be a
growth vehicle to keep pace with escalating land and housing costs; and
WHEREAS, without a trust fund that can rely on a dedicated revenue source, housing
funding will be uncertain and will likely remain stagnant or decrease; and
WHEREAS, the trust funds should not be eliminated or reduced, because they serve
first time homebuyers, working families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the
homeless, which, in turn, stimulates the economy; and
WHEREAS, over 700,000 of Florida's low income families are in immediate need of
affordable housing (paying over 50% of their total household income for shelter),
establishing that Florida needs more affordable housing funding, not less funds from an
uncertain source; and
WHEREAS, the estimated loss in SHIP funding for FY 2003-2004 to Monroe County is
$321,405; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the foregoing clauses are ratified and confirmed as being true and
correct and are made a specific part of this Resolution.
Section 2. That the BOCC of Monroe County opposes the portion of Governor
Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Budget that eliminates the State and local
Government Housing Trust Funds as dedicated funding sources, and reduces by
approximately $94.5 million the funds available for these and other affordable housing
programs.
Section 3. That the BOCC of Monroe County urges the Governor and the Sate
legislators to retain the State and local Housing Trust Funds and appropriate funding at
their full current levels.
Section 4. That the County Clerk is directed to send certified copies of this
Resolution to Governor Jeb Bush, State Senator larcenia J. Bullard, and State
Representative Ken Sorensen.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 19th day of March, 2003.
Mayor Spehar
Mayor Pro Tem Nelson
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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