Item Q11
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
EMERGENCY ADD ON
Meeting Date: November 19,2003
Division:
District 1
Bulk Item: Yes
No
Department: Mayor Dixie M. Spehar
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Recommendation and support for the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to individually email
Governor Jeb Bush and jointly approve a letter sighed by the Mayor on behalf of the BOCC, the first
advocacy steps to support the 16th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Board's position on concerns and
desires for the upcoming 2004-05 Budget Year in reference to a continuum of services.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
In the last two budget years, the Legislature has cut the Department of Juvenile Justice budget by 11 %,
the largest cut of all state agencies. The state of Florida has seen a 4-year decline in juvenile crime
because of the prevention and diversion programs initiated by the Juvenile Justice Circuit Board.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH
Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty
OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
- -
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
~~ 7//. \ i:f!~
Mayor ixie M. Spehar
DOCUMENTATION:
Included X
To Follow
Not Required_
AGENDAITEM#~ - \ \
DISPOSITION:
Revised 1/03
OUNlvofMONROE
KEY WEST .:::J I:LORIDA 33040
(305) 294-4641
District One
500 Whitehead Street, Suite # 1 02
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3440 (Telephone)
305-292-3466 (FAX)
boccdis l@monroecounty-fl.com
Governor Jeb Bush
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Dear Governor Bush:
i.~."".t~
r
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Dixie M. Spehar, District 1
Mayor Pro Tern Murray Nelson, District 5
George Neugent, District 2
Charles "Sonny" McCoy, District 3
David P. Rice, District 4
November 18,2003
J);e~rf
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, The purpose of this letter is one
of advocacy in expressing our concerns and desires for the upcoming 2004-05 legislative budget year relative to the
Department of Juvenile Justice.
In determining our advocacy priorities, we have considered the following facts:
I, By offering a continuum of services that includes prevention and diversion programming, probation,
residential services, day treatment/aftercare services (as outlined in State Statute 985 Part III), the State
of Florida has seen a four year decline in juvenile crime (/998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02).
2. In the last two budget years, the Legislature has cut the Department of Juvenile Justice budget by 11 %,
the largest cut of all State agencies.
3. The issue of Public Safety of which Juvenile Justice is a critical element, affects all residents of Florida,
tourism, and the business industry,
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners wishes to express its support for a budget for the Department of
Juvenile Justice services (as required by the State of Florida outlined in Statute 985 Part III). This includes funding for
PACE Center for Girls and all prevention funding; funding to ensure adequate probation ratios of at least the national
standards; funding to residential and day treatment providers to meet the increasing cost of care which includes insurance
and medical.
We believe this can be accomplished by increasing the budget allocation to Public Safety, An increase in Public Safety
will allow for funding to the Department of Juvenile Justice for the critical, essential and efficient services it provides,
Cutting the Department of Juvenile Justice is not an option, An increase in allocation will allow for the trend of reducing
juvenile crime to continue and help stem the debilitating cuts the Department of Juvenile Justice has received in the last three
years - the same cuts that have begun to effect delivery and quality of services and hence threaten public safety, The
proposed enhancements submitted to you by the Department of Juvenile Justice go a long way toward ensuring public safety,
It is only by providing a full continuum of services including prevention and diversion, probation, residential and day
treatment/afterqrre can we as a State be truly effective in reducing juvenile crime and keep young men and women from
entering the State prison system. Knowing your commitment towards public safety and the youth in our State, we look
forward to your upcoming budget recommendation for the Department of Juvenile Justice and working with your staff.
Sincerely,
Mayor
DMS/mrf