TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REMOVE THE CAP ON STATE SADOWSKI ACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND REVENUES

BODY
WHEREAS, finding affordable rental and single family housing continues to be difficult to find for low and moderate income families in Miami-Dade County and across the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, federal housing programs, especially those that typically serve individuals with the lowest incomes, have experienced significant budget reductions in recent years, placing increasing pressure on state and local governments to provide affordable housing assistance; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida receives documentary stamp tax revenues on deeds and mortgages, a portion of which are deposited into the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund for the purpose of funding affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, during the 2005 session, the Florida Legislature passed Chapter 2005-92, Laws of Florida (HB 1889), which among other things, capped at $243 million the amount of documentary stamp tax revenues that could be distributed to the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund; and
WHEREAS, affordable housing documentary stamp revenue above the $243 million cap is diverted to the state�s general fund; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, the Florida Legislature has passed several comprehensive affordable housing bills, but the despite the large and growing need for additional affordable housing, has not eliminated the $243 million cap on documentary stamp tax revenue for affordable housing that went into effect on July 1, 2007,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to remove the cap on documentary stamp tax revenues that are deposited into the Sadowski State Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Local Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Senate President, the House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2009 State Legislative Package.