TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE NOT TO CUT FUNDS FOR MEALS AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY

BODY
WHEREAS, the State of Florida through the Department of Elder Affairs is providing $4.4�million in general revenue local service provider funds in the current fiscal year to Miami-Dade providers, including Miami-Dade County, that provide meals for the elderly and transportation to meal sites to elderly members of our community who are in need; and
WHEREAS, the $4.4 million in funding was a reduction from $6 million in funding during the prior fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the County matches state funding with $1 million in County funding for elder meals for such programs; and
WHEREAS, as part of their budget exercise for possible cuts for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Department of Elder Affairs is recommending to the House Healthy Seniors Appropriations Committee that funding to local service providers for elder meal programs be eliminated; and
WHEREAS, should these proposed budget reductions be implemented, it would have devastating affects on the needy elderly in our community, many of whom rely on�meal programs for daily survival,

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 not to cut funds for meals and related services to the elderly.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation, and the Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to against the cuts indicated in Section�1 above, and authorizes and directs that the 2009 State Legislative Package be amended to include this item.