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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS SB 1856 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION EXTENDING FLORIDA�S QUALIFIED TARGET INDUSTRY TAX REFUND INCENTIVE PROGRAM

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WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature created the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Incentive Tax Refund Program in 1994 as an additional tool for economic development in Florida; and
WHEREAS, the QTI Program was designed to attract and create high-paying, high-skill jobs for Floridians by awarding eligible businesses refunds of certain state or local taxes in exchange for creating jobs; and
WHEREAS, the QTI Program is one of the most important incentives available to recruit businesses to Florida and help local businesses expand; and
WHEREAS, the amount of tax refunds in the QTI Program is based on the wages paid, the number of jobs created and where in the state the eligible business chooses to locate or expand, but the minimum is $3,000 per employee over the term of the incentive agreement signed by the business and the Governor�s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED); and
WHEREAS, the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida have used the QTI incentive both to attract new businesses to and help to expand existing businesses in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these efforts, companies have committed to creating an estimated total of 11,000 new jobs and approximately $672 million in new capital investment in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, absent the QTI Program, these companies may not have received the assistance needed to move forward with their expansion plans; and
WHEREAS, under current law, the QTI Program will sunset on June 30, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Senate Commerce Committee chaired by Senator Rudy Garcia (R � Hialeah) has undertaken a sunset review of the QTI Program and in addition to recommending the extension of the QTI Program for an additional five years, has also recommended a number of changes to the Program; and
WHEREAS, most of these changes enhance the QTI Program, but there are two changes that may limit the QTI Program�s effectiveness at attracting businesses:
1. Requiring that the wage base from which the required wage for the new jobs be the average private sector wage in the county or MSA where the business is to be located, as opposed to the statewide average wage; and
2. Removing ad valorem taxation as an eligible tax for the QTI refund program or limiting the ability to refund ad valorem taxes to that portion of a QTI business� ad valorem tax bill that is the �required local effort� which county school districts must impose to obtain state K-12 funding; and
WHEREAS, a proposed committee bill has been filed for consideration during the 2010 session that would extend the QTI program another five years to June 30, 2015 and make the other changes recommended by the Sunset Review, SB 1856 sponsored by the Senate Commerce Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Senate Select Committee on Florida�s Economy also has included language in their proposed committee bill extending and enhancing the QTI Program; and
WHEREAS, given the current state of the economy and the need for high-paying, high-skill jobs in Florida, now is not the time to allow this important economic development program to sunset; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports the extension of the QTI program provided that the QTI Program continues to allow Florida counties to use the statewide average wage as the QTI wage base if it is lower than the county average wage and retain ad valorem taxes among the tax categories that are eligible for QTI refund,
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 pass SB 1856 or similar legislation extending Florida�s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Incentive program provided that the QTI Program continues to allow Florida counties to use the statewide average wage as the QTI wage base if it is lower than the county average wage and retain ad valorem taxes among the tax categories that are eligible for QTI refund.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, 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 and the implementation of the reforms set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2010 State Legislative Package.