Item M1
1
CM
ounty of onroe
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Heather Carruthers, District 3
Mayor Pro Tem George Neugent, District 2
TheFloridaKeys
Danny L. Kolhage, District 1
David Rice, District 4
Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
County Commission Meeting
August 17, 2016
Agenda Item Number: M.1
Agenda Item Summary #1897
BULK ITEM: DEPARTMENT:
No County Attorney's Office
TIME APPROXIMATE:STAFF CONTACT:
Carol Schreck (305) 292-3430
Yes
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners
of Monroe County directing the Supervisor of Elections to place a non-binding question on the
November 2016 general election ballot regarding support for legislation to authorize the imposition
of a sales surtax on tobacco and served alcohol sales throughout Monroe County where the proceeds
could only be used to fund and increase services to meet unmet needs for veterans, seniors, children,
disabled, and other vulnerable residents and to offset costs currently funded by property taxes.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The County is authorized by F.S. 125.01(1)(e) to provide health and
welfare programs for the residents of Monroe County. Historically, the County has found that the
most cost efficient method for providing for such health and welfare programs is to provide financial
support to local non-profit entities that have been formed to provide such services. Currently,
applications from such entities for County funds are presented to the Human Services Advisory
Board for review and recommendation to the Commission. In FY17, the County has budgeted $2
million to fund the human agencies through the HSAB process. In addition, the County directly
funds other services such as Baker Act services through direct appropriations. Between the HSAB
awards and the direct appropriations, the County is budgeting to spend $3,904,875 on such health
and welfare programs in FY17. In addition, under the proposed FY17 budget, the County would
contribute $1,165,070 towards These programs are funded
exclusively through the use of property taxes. Despite these efforts, there are unmet needs in the
community.
In an effort to develop a dedicated funding source for these services which would a) support an
enhancement to the quantity and quality of such programs, b) reduce the current property tax burden
on County residents and property owners to pay for these services, the Mayor asked staff and
interested citizens to examine possible alternatives. Since experience has shown that tourists account
for more than half of the sales tax generated in Monroe County, a sales surtax could meet both goals.
Unfortunately, staff could find no authorization under current state law which would meet the goals.
For example, while F.S. 125.901 [entitled
Council;] authorizes counties to create an independent special distri,
that statute only authorizes the use of property taxes to fund those services and does not appear to
4EGOIX4K
1
authorize services to vulnerable populations other than children, such as veterans, seniors, and the
disabled. Alternatively, although F.S. 212.0306 authorizes the imposition of a surtax on the sale of
food, beverages, and alcoholic beverages to fund certain human services, that statute - as currently
written - only applies to Miami-Dade County.
In order to meet these goals, state law would need to be changed. In order to demonstrate
community support for the statutory changes needed to implement these goals, the
legislative staff and lobbyists recommend holding a non-binding referendum. Under F.S.
The resolution directs the Supervisor of Elections to place the following ballot question before the
voters during the November 2016 general election:
SALES TAX ON TOBACCO AND SERVED ALCOHOL TO FUND HUMAN
SERVICES IN MONROE COUNTY
Would you support a sales tax on tobacco and served alcohol throughout Monroe County
where the proceeds could only be used to fund and increase services to meet unmet needs
for veterans, seniors, children, disabled, and other vulnerable residents and to offset such
costs currently funded by property taxes?
Yes___ No____
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
On May 24, 2016, the Board authorized staff to
develop proposals to find alternative methods for funding human services.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
n/a
DOCUMENTATION:
Stamped Resolution req SOE place Ref Q on Nov 8 General Election Ballot re surtax
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date: August 17, 2016
Expiration Date: n/a
Total Dollar Value of Contract: n/a
Total Cost to County: None. Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
n/a
Source of Funds: n/a
CPI: n/a
Indirect Costs: n/a
4EGOIX4K
1
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: n/a
Revenue Producing: n/a If yes, amount:
Grant:
n/a
County Match
: n/a
Insurance Required:
n/a
Additional Details: The General Election is already scheduled so adding a question to the
ballot for that election will not result in increased costs to the County.
REVIEWED BY:
Heather Carruthers Completed 08/02/2016 4:42 PM
Bob Shillinger Completed 08/02/2016 4:54 PM
Budget and Finance Completed 08/02/2016 4:56 PM
Kathy Peters Completed 08/02/2016 5:11 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 08/17/2016 9:00 AM
4EGOIX4K
1E
4EGOIX4K
1E
4EGOIX4K
1E
4EGOIX4K
1E
4EGOIX4K