81-23 vRESOLUTION N0. $1-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE EFFORTS OF
THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES~TO SECURE PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND AN ALTERNATE,
GROWING SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THROUGH A l~ STATEWIDE INCREASE IN THE SALES ,TAX
AND URGING ,THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGIS-
~^~, CATION EMBODYING THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ;AND 'LOCAL
tV ~ GOVERNMENT ;ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE
OF CITIES.
WHEREAS, the burden of property taxation on Floridians is becoming
increasingly heavy and unfair;
WHEREAS, the property tax is an inadequate source of revenue for
local governments facing exploding demands for public services in such essential
areas as law enforcement, transportation and waste treatment and disposal;
WHEREAS, in view of the exemptions for purchases of essential items
such as food and medicine, the sales tax is more equitable than the property
tax and is paid by all those who benefit from public services in Florida in-
cluding tourists, who pay'as much as 30% of the sales tax;
WHEREAS, the sales tax is an appropriate means for relieving the pro-
perty tax burden of Floridians and for providing local governments with a grow-
ing source of revenue; and
WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities has established a Strike Force
for Property Tax Relief for the purpose of securing property tax relief and
state assistance to local governments through a!l~ statewide increase in the
sales tax.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
Section 1. That the legislative program of the Florida League of
Cities regarding property tax relief and state assistance to local governments
be and hereby is approved, which legislative program is as follows:
(A) A l~ statewide increase in the sales ,tax;
(B) An equitable-division of the revenue from the l~
sales tax 'increase between the Revenue Sharing
Trust Fund for Municipalities and the Revenue
Sharing Trust Fund for Counties;
(C) Distributions to municipalities and counties from
the Revenue Sharing Trust Funds in accordance with
the existing formulas applicable to each; and
(D) A mandatory, minimum reduction in property taxes
! from fiscal year 1981-1982 levels equal to the
increase in revenues to local governments result-
ing from the l~ sales tax legislation, multiplied
by the percentage of the sales tax paid by
Floridians.
~ ,
Section 2. That the legislature of the State of Florida be and
hereby is urged and requested to enact legislation embodying and aforesaid
property tax relief and local government assistance program of the Florida
League of Cities.
Passed by the City Commission December 14, 1981
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ATTEST:
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Adelaide R. Tucker, City Clerk
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