HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 177-2018 RESOLUTION NO. 177 -- 2018
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF THE MIDDLE KEYS
HEALTH CARE MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING UNIT;
REQUESTING THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MARATHON
AND KEY COLONY BEACH TO ADOPT THE
NECESSARY ORDINANCES TO PERMIT FURTHER AD
VALOREM TAXATION WITHIN THEIR MUNICIPAL
BOUNDARIES; AND CALLING FOR LIMITATIONS ON
THE ABILITY OF MONROE COUNTY TO LEVY,
COLLECT, AND USE FURTHER AD VALOREM
TAXATION WITHIN THE TAXING UNIT.
WHEREAS, Monroe County (the "County ") is authorized by the Florida Constitution
and applicable laws of the State of Florida to adopt this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, prior to Hurricane Irma, Fishermen's Community Hospital (the "Hospital")
in Marathon, Florida, struggled financially due in part to the cost of its delivery of hospital
services to patients who were unable to pay; and
WHEREAS, at the request of community leaders, Fishermen's Health, Inc., a not -for-
profit corporation ( "Fishermen's ") affiliated with Baptist Health South Florida, acquired the
Hospital just prior to Hurricane Irma; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital facility suffered damage in Hurricane Irma; and
WHEREAS, the 1960s era Hospital facility is in need of significant repairs, upgrades
and improvements in order to adequately serve the Middle Keys community; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital facility has not reopened following Hurricane Irma, and
Hospital services are being provided from an emergency mobile facility on the site, currently
slated to be replaced this summer at significant expense by a temporary modular facility on the
site that will more adequately serve the needs of the public, pending construction of a new
permanent Hospital facility at a cost of approximately $40 million for design, construction and
equipment; and
WHEREAS, the resumed operation of a permanent, modern hospital in the Middle Keys
would serve a paramount public purpose; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is authorized by Section 125.01(1)(q), Florida Statutes, to
create a municipal service taxing unit, and to levy taxes within the taxing unit, for the purposes
of indigent health care, other municipal services, and essential facilities.
Resolution A 114951208.6
. . .
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. The findings of the Board of County Commissioners set forth in the above
recitals are hereby adopted.
Section 2. The Board of County Commissioners shall adopt the necessary ordinances to
create the Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Services Taxing District (the "Taxing Unit "),
which would include all properties located in the geographic area of Monroe County from mile
marker 40, at the southern end of the Seven Mile Bridge, to mile marker 66, at the southern end
of Long Key, including the municipalities of Marathon and Key Colony Beach, but excluding
the municipality of Layton.
Section 3. The Board of County Commissioners shall request that the municipalities of
Marathon and Key Colony Beach adopt the necessary ordinances to create the Taxing Unit.
Section 4. Any ad valorem taxes imposed by the County within the Taxing Unit shall be
limited to one -half of one mill (0.00050) on the assessed valuation of taxable real property
within the Taxing Unit, to be collected each year beginning in November 2019 (Monroe County
tax year 2020), for a time period not to exceed ten (10) years.
Section 5. Any ad valorem taxes levied within the Taxing Unit shall be used to ensure
the availability of hospital services within the Taxing Unit by financially supporting the delivery
of hospital services to patients who are unable to pay the full costs of such services.
Section 6. No ad valorem taxes shall be levied within the Taxing Unit until after the
County enters into a contract with Fishermen's, or another future hospital operator, setting forth
the terms on which such ad valorem taxes will be paid for their intended purpose.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 20th of June, 2018.
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' Mayor David P. Rice Yes • Z C3 C rn
ayor Pro Tem Sylvia Murphy Y es A: r -
Y Y P Y Y, z
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:::::: Heather Carruthers Yes � � n "c ., rn
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'� «.. ,.. Commissioners Danny Kolhag Yes =(-1 ,v o
N
(SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Attest: KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
S ' 1. n 1 f
By: Deputy Clerk By: Mayor David P. Rice
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
AP 00V D T0IE0=
Resolution A 114951208.6 C NTHIA L..
ASSIST6 NT COUNTY ATTORNEY
Date -Q-5-