Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 07-29 Constitution Amendment ‎(no action)‎ — reading text

17 ~ d( lOP RESOLUTION 2007- 29 fl8-~ pi !; \ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, torJ~ URGING FLORIDA CITIZENS TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING PROPERTY TAXES THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE JANUARY 29, 2008 BALLOT; OPPOSING SAID PROPOSAL FOR REASONS STATED HEREIN; SUPPORTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROHIBITING UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES IN ORDER TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES; SUPPORTING A PROHffiITION ON THE STATE' S PRACTICE OF REQUIRING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES; URGING THE FLORIDA TAXATION AND BUDGET AND REFORM COMMISSION TO DEVELOP MEASURES CONSISTENT WITH THIS RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach supports property tax refonn because the current property tax structure created by the state and imposed on cities is unfair and unsustainable in that certain tax payers are forced to assume tax burdens that, in property fairness, should be borne by the owners of all types of properties, and similarly situated homeowners are treated differently for purposes of ad valorem taxation; WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach supports a tax structure that is fair and equitable for all property owners, is competitively neutral and allows cities the flexibility to provide adequate services to their citizens; WHEREAS, the state continues to force cities to raise property taxes to fund state initiatives rather than at the expense of services to their citizens; that is, the state continues to place " unfunded state mandates" on cities; WHEREAS, the state continues to shift its constitutional responsibility to adequately fund public education by forcing school boards to increase there " required local effort"; that is, the state continues to force school boards to raise property taxes as a condition to the receipt of state revenues; WHEREAS, the state has proposed an amendment to Florida' s constitution that increases the homestead exemption, pennits the portability of Save Our Homes, provides a $ 25, 000 exemption from the tangible property tax and places a 10% per year assessment limitation on non-homesteaded properties; WHEREAS, said proposal compounds the disparities and inequities imbedded in the current property tax structure and in current appraised values and ignores the dramatic influence unfunded state mandates" and the state' s shifting of its educational funding responsibility have had on property tax increases; and WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of the amendment is unknown, and thus the proposal fails to adequately infonn citizens of its impact on their essential services, including education and public safety. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH: U:\Agenda\ 2007\ 20071127\ Res 07- 29 re Property Tax Refonn. doc  Section 1.The City of Fort Walton Beach urges Florida' s citizens to consider the proposed amendment will compound existing disparities and inequities for Florida' s property tax payers and fails to resolve the disparities and inequities in values. appraised Section 2. The City of Fort Walton Beach urges Florida' s citizens to consider the fact the proposed amendment ignores the dramatic influence unfunded state mandates and the state' s shifting of its educational funding responsibility have had on property tax increases. Section 3. The City of Fort Walton Beach urges Florida' s citizens to consider the impact of a proposed amendment to the constitution for which the fiscal consequences are unknown. Section 4. The City of Fort Walton Beach opposes the proposal scheduled to appear on the January 29, 2008 ballot because it fails to resolve the and disparities embedded in inequities the existing property tax structure and in current appraised values and fails to address unfunded state mandates and the state' s practice of requiring local school boards to increase school property taxes. Section 5. The City of Fort Walton Beach supports an amendment to the state constitution that prohibits " unfunded state mandates" and requires the savings derived therefrom to be used to reduce property taxes. Section 6. The City of Fort Walton Beach supports a prohibition on the state' s existing practice of requiring local school boards to increase school taxes to fulfill the state' s property constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education. Section 7. The City of Fort Walton Beach urges the Florida Taxation and Budget Refonn Commission to develop meaningful and comprehensive tax refonn measures that are consistent with this resolution. Section 8. That this resolution shall take effect upon approval by City Council and signature by the Mayor. ADOPTED: MAYOR: MIKE ANDERSON ATTEST: HELEN SPENCER, CITY CLERK Approved as to fonn. TONI L.CRAIG, CITY ATTORNEY U:\Agenda\ 2007\ 20071127\ Res 07- 29 re Property Tax Refonn. doc