Resolution 067-2022 �r rE
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 067 -2022
RESOLUTION Y COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY,MONROE FLORIDA REQUESTINGVI
ELECTIONS L SPECIAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 TO PLACE
V LQUESTION
DETERMINING L BOARD OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA L I YEARLY
AD VALOREM ILL, FOR FOUR ( ) YEARS,
BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022, FOR PURPOSES OF FUNDING
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS,
INCLUDING ENHANCED SCHOOL SECURITY AND TEACHER
SALARIES, F.S. 111.71( ) AND F.S. 111.7 ( ).
WHEREAS, F.S. 1011.71(9) authorizes a school district to levy, by local
referendum, additional millage for enhanced school security measures and
o t h e r school operational purposes up to an amount that, when combined with non-
voted millage levied under the Section, does not exceed the 10 mill limit established in
s. 9(b), Art. VII of the Florida Constitution; and
WHEREAS, F.S. 1011.73(2) authorizes a school board, by resolution adopted at
a regular meeting, to direct the Board of County Commissioners to call an election at
which the electors within the school district may approve an ad valorem tax millage as
authorized under F.S. 1011.71(9). Further, such election may be held during any 12
month period. Any millage so authorized shall be levied for a period not in excess of four
(4) years or until changed by another millage election, whichever is earlier; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to F.S. 1011.71(9) and F. S . 1011.73(2), on February 8,
2022, the School Board adopted their Resolution No. 2 0 2 2-0 01 , attached hereto as
Exhibit 'A" to this resolution, to levy a yearly ad valorem millage tax increase of up to
.5625 mill, for four (4) years beginning July 1, 2022, for funding enhanced security
measures and operating expenses of Monroe County schools;
WHEREAS, the School Board has presented their Resolution No. 2202-001 to
the County requesting that the County call a special election for the purpose of placing their
referendum question concerning the School Board's levy of a yearly ad valorem tax
increase of up to .5625 mill for four (4) years on the June28, 2022 before the voters;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA-
1. That pursuant F . S . 1011.73(2), the Supervisor of Elections is
hereby requested to call a Special Election for June 28, 2022 and
place before the voters the referendum adopted by the School
Board of Monroe County, Florida, in its Resolution 2022-001
(attached hereto as Exhibit A).
2. The Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Supervisor of Elections.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held on the 16th day of February, 2022.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
Commissioner District 3, Vacant
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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'� ` r Mayor David Rice
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KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
By:
As eputy Clerk
Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
DN:cn=Robert B.Shillinger,o=Monroe County BOCC
Robert B. Shillinger ,
".flu=Monroe County Attorney,email=shillinger- —abob@monroecounty-fl.gov,c=US ry
• Date:2022.02.1813:17:06-05'00' :C:. —ri ,.,,,,
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Approved as to form and legal sufficiency _:>Li'
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney _�
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Y
RESOLUTION 2022—001
A RESOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, PROPOSING RENEWAL OF TEACHER SALARY MILLAGE
LEVY, APPROVING FORM OF BALLOT QUESTION, REQUESTING
PLACEMENT OF REFERENDUM ON BALLOT, PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS,due to limitations in the State of Florida funding formula,the Monroe County
School District has experienced budgetary shortfalls with respect to teacher salaries,
insurance benefits, and classroom materials since 2004; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the State of Florida issued a mandate to promote school safety and
enhanced coordination between education and law enforcement entities to
comprehensively address the crisis of gun violence on school campuses in the wake of the
tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; and
WHEREAS, Florida Statute § 1011.71(9) provides for an increase in ad valorem taxes for
the purpose of raising additional funds for school operational purposes pursuant to
referendum levying additional millage approved by the voters of Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, Florida law requires that any discretionary millage levied by the Monroe
County School District for operational funding be approved by the voters at least every
four(4) years; and
WHEREAS, the voters of Monroe County previously approved a referendum authorizing
the School District to raise funds for purposes of funding teacher salaries, insurance
benefits and classroom materials for a four(4)year period beginning July 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the voters of Monroe County previously approved a referendum authorizing
the School District to raise funds for purposes of maintaining and improving the safety and
security of local schools for a four(4) year period beginning January 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the School Board of Monroe County, Florida requires a renewal of the
previously levied millage to continue meeting its operational budgetary needs with respect
to teacher salaries,insurance benefits, classroom materials and meeting the enhanced safety
and security measures now required by law; and
WHEREAS,the Monroe County School District wishes to combine the operational millage
approved by the voters in 2018 and 2020 into a single referendum, which if approved,
would void the remaining two years of millage approved in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the School Board of Monroe County, Florida intends to issue a voter
referendum in a special election on June 28, 2022, requesting that the citizens of Monroe
County, Florida approve a renewal of the 2018 and 2020 operational millages;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
1. Adoption of Recitals
The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if set
forth in the body of this Resolution.
2. Requesting Placement of Referendum on Election Ballot
Pursuant to Florida Statute § 1011.73(2),the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida is hereby directed to call an election on June 28, 2022, for the qualified electors of the
Monroe County School District to vote on a continuation of the current ad valorem millage rate set
forthe operating expenses of the School District as authorized by Florida Statute § 1011.71(9).
3. Approving Initial Cost of Special Election
The School Board of Monroe County, Florida hereby authorizes payment to the Monroe County
Supervisor of Elections Office of an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 to cover the initial costs of
a special election requiring advanced payment.The Board further acknowledges the total estimated
costs of between$250,000 and$300,000 that may be incurred as a result of the special election.
4. Approval of Ballot Question
The substance of the millage referendum and the ballot title shall read:
RENEWAL OF OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY
SCHOOLS:
Pursuant to legislation enacted in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School
shooting, the Monroe County School District is required by law to hire School Resource
Officers and School Safety Officers at each of its schools. The District also seeks to
continue its reduced millage for capital projects and continue to make the equivalent
amount available for operational expenses, such as teacher salaries, retention of school
nurses, and purchase of classroom materials.
Shall the District enact a yearly ad valorem tax of no more than 0.5625 mill, for four (4)
years beginning July 1, 2022, for purposes of raising revenue for purposes of funding
enhanced security measures and operational expenses of Monroe County schools?
YES NO
5. Effective Date
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the School Board
of Monroe County, Florida.
DULY ADOPTED by the School Board of Monroe County, Florida this 8th day of
February, 2022.
Board Chair John Dick NO YES
Vice-Chair Andy Griffiths NO YES
Board Member Mindy Conn NO YES
Board Member Robert Highsmith NO YES
Board Member Suzanne Woltanski NO YES
Superintendent, Theresa Axford
Dirk M. Smits, B.C.S., Board Attorney