Okaloosa County BOCC — November 17, 2015 — 2015-2016-interim-legislative-program — reading text

SUPPORT passage of a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill that provides long-term funding certainty, restores solvency to the Highway Trust Fund, and distributes to high growth states like Florida at least 95% of all highway funds by formula. National Flood I nsurance P rogram (NFI P ) R eform FAC SUPPORTS legislative efforts, policies and programs that ensure all property owners can receive affordable flood insurance within a program framework that helps the NFIP become financially stable. Federal Disaster Assistance SUPPORT legislation that prohibits the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from deobligating from counties previously-awarded disaster funds for projects that have been certified complete by the state for at least three years. 8  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program Finance, Tax & Administration Davin J. Suggs, Fiscal Policy Director Email: dsuggs@fl-counties.com Interim Policy Statements Phone: 850-922-4300 or Fax: 850-488-7501 Tax Reform: SUPPORT tax reform measures that simplify administration and provide an economic boost to Florida’s taxpayers while at the same time considering and minimizing the collective and cumulative negative impact on local revenues, including state shared and local discretionary revenue sources that are critical to local governments in providing community services. Potential tax proposals that are of major concern to FAC include, but are not limited to: E. Communications Services Taxes SUPPORT amending and/or revising current law in a manner that is: 1) revenue neutral; 2) simplifies administration and collection of the current tax; 3) provides for a broad and equitable tax base; 4) provides for enhanced stability and reliability as an important revenue source for local government; and 5) provides the opportunity for market-based growth. OPPOSE legislation that would revise current law in a manner that significantly reduces current local government related revenues. F. Sales Tax Exemption on Commercial Leases SUPPORT legislation that would phase-in a reduction and eventual exemption of state sales tax on commercial leases, but preserving and “grandfathering-in” existing local (county) option sales taxes. G. Property Taxes – “Elimination of Recapture Provision” OPPOSE legislation that would eliminate currently existing recapture provisions for homestead and non-homestead property. H. Local Discretionary Revenue Flexibility SUPPORT modifications to existing laws governing local discretionary sales tax revenue sources, including operational expenditures, to provide greater simplification, flexibility and more efficient administration and management. 9  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program SUPPORT expanding the eligibility to levy the Charter County Transportation Surtax to all counties. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Economic Development: SUPPORT measures that empower local governments and provides resources to work with community partners towards the creation of quality jobs, more vibrant Florida communities and global competitiveness as envisioned by the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 20 year strategic plan. Related issues that are of major interest to FAC for the 2016 Legislative session include, but are not limited to: C. State and Local Economic Development Partnerships SUPPORT legislation and appropriation that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the state and local government partnership in economic development through the greater use of targeted strategies and strategic investments to induce and retain sustainable economic activity resulting in a consistent positive return on investment for both state and local governments. D. Film/Television Entertainment Production Tax Incentives SUPPORT legislation that would enhance the current incentives program to support and incentivize local governments to create and maintain a more sustainable and competitive physical and financial environment for attracting film, television, digital and new media related entertainment production in the State of Florida that promotes and is tied to infrastructure and workforce education in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. BUDGET & FINANCE ADMINISTRATION Value Adjustment Boards: SUPPORT legislation that increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the current VAB process. OPPOSE legislation that would harm the ability of Value Adjustment Boards in fulfilling its role as intended by the State Constitution. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION CCNA: FAC SUPPORT language amending the CCNA to raise the allowable thresholds for dollar thresholds under the CCNA or to clarify the meaning of “work of a specified 10  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program nature” as not being subject to the dollar thresholds, provided that the contract is for a specific time period. Regulation of taxis and Limousines: FAC SUPPORTS maintaining the integrity of home rule power, which allows counties to regulate taxis, limousines, and jitneys for the purpose of public safety and consumer protection. Conversely, FAC OPPOSES in effort that preempts to the state the regulation of chauffeured limousines, limousine services and drivers of chauffeured limousines. Elections: SUPPORT full state funding of all expenditures by supervisors of elections to comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act. Public Notice: SUPPORT legislation allowing local governments to comply with public notice and legal advertisement requirements by means other than the newspaper. Florida Retirement System (FRS): OPPOSE any FRS benefit changes that result in an increase in the FRS county and county employee contribution rates. SUPPORT requiring all legislation that potentially results in an increase in the FRS contribution rate to be analyzed and evaluated to determine the direct fiscal impact of proposed changes to all local and state government to be eligible for consideration. Public Record and Open Meeting Exemptions for Economic Development: SUPPORT changes to s.286.0113 and s.288.075, F.S., that would allow the Board of County Commissioners to deliberate in private regarding an economic development proposal and preserve the confidentiality of confidential information in the possession of an economic development agency. Eric Poole, Assistant Legislative Director Email: epoole@fl-counties.com Growth Management, Agriculture & Environment Stephen James, Legislative Staff Attorney Email: sjames@fl-counties.com Interim Policy Statements Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 GROWTH MANAGEMENT Home Rule Preemptions: FAC OPPOSES legislation that preempts the legislative and policy making powers of counties used to regulate land use and implement local zoning controls. Further, FAC OPPOSES legislative efforts that mandate minimum land use densities for properties that meet specific size, use, and location characteristics. 11  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program Growth Management Reform: The growth reforms of 2011 represented the most significant changes to the state’s planning laws in more than 25 years. While FAC does not oppose the revised planning process, it believes that no further revisions should occur without first evaluating the impact the 2011 changes have had on the economy, the environment, local and regional infrastructure, and community development. Accordingly, until such an evaluation takes place, OPPOSE any further reductions in state planning oversight or other efforts preempting local planning decisions. Concurrency: In the absence of state-mandated transportation concurrency, and to ensure that the roads needed to support new development are concurrent with the impacts of development, SUPPORT county home rule authority, and current statutory provisions, which allow counties to retain their current transportation concurrency systems, as adopted by local ordinance. Proportionate Fair-Share Mitigation: SUPPORT major revisions to the proportionate share statute to ensure that: (1) the funding formula and its application are clear and unambiguous; (2) local governments can determine if the payment is adequate to satisfy the concurrency management system; (3) each development can be charged its proportionate share of road improvements when the road is deficient or when development causes the road to become deficient; and, (4) development is not charged for existing deficiencies or backlog. REGIONAL PLANNING Regional Planning Councils (RPCs): FAC recognizes that RPCs play a critical role in supporting local governments by providing key services that support: • Economic Development; • Affordable Housing; • Transportation Planning; • Emergency Preparedness; • Hurricane Evacuation; • Community Planning; • GIS Mapping; and, • Dispute Resolution Services. Accordingly, FAC SUPPORTS retaining the existing statutory authorities and responsibilities vested in RPCs. 12  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program AFFORDABLE HOUSING Affordable Housing: SUPPORT retaining the full amount of dedicated documentary tax revenues to fund state and local affordable housing programs. TRANSPORTATION Utility Relocation: OPPOSE legislation requiring counties to pay for the relocation of private utilities when such utilities are located within a county-owned right-of- way and must be moved to accommodate a county project. State Transportation Trust Fund: OPPOSE any effort to divert revenues from the state transportation trust fund for non-transportation purposes. Regional Transportation Finance Entities: SUPPORT legislation that authorizes the creation of regional transportation finance authorities, who may be authorized to use tolls, or pledge a portion of the capacity improvement funds from the State Transportation Trust Fund to finance eligible transit or transportation improvement projects. Rural Transportation Funding: SUPPORT state funding for the Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP). SUPPORT continuing enhanced state funding for the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP). County Transportation Projects: SUPPORT increasing the cost cap (from $400,000 to $750,000) for counties to self-perform road improvement projects using the Constitutional Gas Tax proceeds. Strategic Intermodal System (SIS): SUPPORT legislation allowing SIS funds to be used on roads and other transportation facilities not designated on the SIS network if the improvement relieves congestion on the SIS. LAND CONSERVATION Amendment 1 – The Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment: SUPPORT a balanced distribution of funds for land acquisition and for water quality and quantity projects throughout the state, with