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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE EACH REGION OF THE STATE, INCLUDING SOUTHEAST FLORIDA AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ITS FAIR SHARE OF STATE FUNDING BASED ON WHERE REVENUE IS GENERATED

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WHEREAS, it has long been the public perception that the residents of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties pay more in taxes to the State of Florida than these counties get back in state programs and services; and
WHEREAS, a 2008 study by the Miami Herald confirmed this perception and concluded that the people of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties sent over $7.15 billion in tax revenues to Tallahassee annually, but only received $6.69 billion back, resulting in a difference of $460 million, which equals $144 for every adult residing in these two counties; and
WHEREAS, including Palm Beach County in this analysis likely would bring the annual difference to more than a half billion dollars annually between what the people of the three Southeast Florida counties contribute in tax revenue to the State of Florida compared with what the residents of these three counties receive back in state services and programs; and
WHEREAS, state funding can never be an exact science, but the Florida Legislature should strive as much as possible to distribute funding to different regions of the state in relation to where revenue is generated to provide each region its fair share of state funding; and
WHEREAS, as state funding becomes more scarce during these difficult budget times resulting in programs and funding being cut, it becomes all the more important that the Legislature equitably distribute state funds,

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 provide each region of the State of Florida, including Southeast Florida and Miami-Dade County, its fair share of state funding based on where revenue is generated.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this Resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Mayor and Members of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the Chair and Members of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, and the Mayors, Chairs and Members of the governing bodies of the municipalities within Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the issue identified in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2010 state legislative package.