Resolution 114-1986
Mayor Wilhelmina G. Harvey
RESOLUTION NO. 114-1986
WHEREAS, over the last five years, the federal government
has reduced domestic expenditures to state and local governments
by 25% while during the same period, overall expenditures have
increased by 25%; and
WHEREAS, the budget proposal currently before Congress
proposes another reduction to state/local revenues $14.5 billion
with a proposed defense increase of $16 plus billion; and
WHEREAS, the Administration has called for the total elimin-
ation of the Federal Financial Assistance Act of 1972 (General
Revenue Sharing), the only federal program which assures a
domestic partnership with each county in the state and country;
and
WHEREAS, all past federal domestic reductions have carried
the assurance that they were being accomplished for the sake of
deficit reduction while, in fact, the dollars were shifted to
other expenditure categories in defense and foreign aid; and
WHEREAS, at the same time that the federal government
reduced domestic spending, defense spending increased and also
federal taxes were reduced, thus further increasing the deficit;
and
WHEREAS, another tax reform proposal before Congress today
proposes to eliminate tax deductions for state and local taxes
and eliminate the tax exempt status of public bonds. The revenue
produced by this action, roughly $50 billion, would be used to
reduce taxes for other taxpayers rather than reduce the deficit;
and
WHEREAS, the county officials of Florida, along with our
counterparts from around the country, are seriously concerned
about a maintenance of congressional commitment to the domestic
partnership; and
WHEREAS, the single best way to maintain that partnership is
through the single most efficient mechanism available, that is
General Revenue Sharing; and
WHEREAS, Florida county officials think that deficit re-
duction is the number one target of the federal government and
that reduction of spending will continue to be necessary while
revenue increases may also be necessary; and
WHEREAS, Florida county officials are committed to continue
to work with Congress to ensure that those reductions will not
place undue hardship on any single sector or program and that
such reductions should be felt by all categories of federal
expenditure, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
1. Said Board hereby urges the Florida Congressional
Delegation to cease attacking the federal deficit solely by
reductions in domestic spending and to promptly address this
national issue in a spirit of fairness by asking all portions of
the federal budget across the board to share the burden of
further reductions in federal spending; and
2. Said Board hereby strongly urges each member of the
Florida Congressional Delegation to commit to a continued domes-
tic partnership. In addition, they must support the continuation
of the program which has proven to be one which accomplishes the
domestic goals of both Congress and counties, that is General
Revenue Sharing; and
3. Said Board pledges to continue to work with Congress
toward a balanced federal budget. We have already significantly
increased taxes and reduced spending. We are, however, opposed
to accomplishing the deficit reduction goal by a technique which
requires all spending reductions to come from the domestic side
alone of the federal budget.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the 4th day of April, A. D. 1986.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
. A ~
By ~~.()~"-'-~-"~ ~
Mayor/Chairman
(Seal) PaNNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
Attest:
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BY
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