Resolution 135-2022MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 135 -2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA RESCINDING RESOLUTION
No. 067-2022, CANCELING THE JUNE 28, 2022
SPECIAL ELECTION AND REQUESTING THE SUPERVISOR
OF ELECTIONS TO PLACE BEFORE THE VOTER'S AT THE
AUGUST 23, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION THE SCHOOL
BOARD'S REFERENDUM QUESTION DETERMINING WHETHER THE
SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED TO ENACT A YEARLY AD VALOREM TAX OF UP TO
.5625 MILL, FOR FOUR (4) YEARS, BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2023,
FOR PURPOSES OF FUNDING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF
MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING ENHANCED SCHOOL
SECURITY AND TEACHER SALARIES, PURSUANT TO F.S. 1011.71(9)
AND F.S. 1011.73(2).
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); and
WHEREAS, 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, ON February 8, 2022, the School Board adopted a resolution calling for
placement on the ballot for a June 28, 2022 special election a referendum requesting voter
approval 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; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2022, the Commission adopted Resolution 067-2022
requesting the Supervisor of Elections to call a special election for June 28, 2022 in order
to place the School Board's question before the voters; and
WHEREAS, due to a change in circumstances, the School Board has subsequently
requested through counsel that the aforementioned referendum question be moved from
the June 28, 2022 special election to the August 23, 2022 primary election; and
WHEREAS, the School Board has submitted their Resolution 2022-001, attached
hereto as Exhibit "A" to this resolution, requesting that the Commission direct placement of
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 beginning January 1, 2023 before the voters
at the August 23, 2022 primaryelection; and
WHEREAS, the Commission finds that there are no other questions or races that
warrant holding a special election on June 22, 2022.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
1. Resolution 067-2022 is hereby rescinded in its entirety and the
Supervisor of Elections (the "Supervisor") is authorized to cancel the
June 28, 2022 special election.
2. The Supervisor is requested to place before the voters at the
August 23, 2022 primary election the referendum question
adopted by the School Board of Monroe County, Florida, in its
Resolution 2022-001 (attached hereto as Exhibit A).
3. The Clerk is directed to send this Resolution to the Supervisor of Elections.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held on the 20'h day of April, 2022.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
Commissioner District 3, Vacant
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
MADOK, CLERK
As be 7,M� Cl4k
C Digitally signed by Robert B. Shillinger
DN: —Robert B. Shillinger, o=Monroe County
Robert B. Shillinger BDCC Monroe County Attorney,
email-shillinger-bob@monroecounly-0.gov, c=US
Date: 2022.04.21 1505:01 .04700'
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: _.
Mayor David Rice '.iCD
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Exhibit A
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 August 23, 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 August 23, 2022 for the qualified
electors of the Monroe County School District to vote on a continuation of the current ad
valorem millage rate set for the operating expenses of the School District as authorized by
Florida Statute § 1011.71(9).
3. Approval of Ballot Question
The substance of the millage referendum and the ballot title shall read:
RENEWAL OF OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY
SCHOOLS:
The School District seeks to continue its reduced millage for capital projects, making a
proportional amount available for operational expenses, like teacher salaries. The District
also seeks to continue retaining legally -required safe schools officers.
Shall the District enact a yearly ad valorem tax of no more than 0.5625 mill, for four (4)
years beginning January 1, 2023, for raising revenue for purposes of funding enhanced
security measures and operational expenses of Monroe County schools?
YES NO
4. 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 8m day of
February, 2022.
Board Chair John Dick
NO
Vice -Chair Andy Griffiths
NO
Board Member Mindy Conn
NO
Board Member Robert Highsmith
NO
Board Member Suzanne Woltanski
NO
SuperiyAndent, Theresa Axford
Smits, B.C.S., Board Attorney
Absent
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES