TITLE
RESOLUTION CALLING A COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, [ ], FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS OF MIAMIDADE COUNTY THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO AMEND THE HOME RULE CHARTER TO PROVIDE THAT: EACH COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVOTE FULL-TIME SERVICE TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOLD NO OTHER EMPLOYMENT; NO LONGER RECEIVE THEIR CURRENT $6,000 ANNUAL SALARY ESTABLISHED IN 1957, BUT RECEIVE INSTEAD THE SALARY PROVIDED BY STATE STATUTORY FORMULA, ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE COUNTY�S POPULATION (CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY $92,097), AND USED BY OTHER FLORIDA COUNTIES, INCLUDING BROWARD COUNTY; AND SHALL SERVE NO MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS IN OFFICE

BODY
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County established an annual salary of $6,000 for County Commissioners in 1957, when the County�s Home Rule Charter was adopted; and
WHEREAS, the demands of the position of County Commissioner have grown substantially, while the salary has remained the same; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is now the most populous county in the State of Florida with a population of over 2.4 million residents and a budget in excess of $7.3 billion; and
WHEREAS, other counties in the State of Florida compensate their Commissioners pursuant to a state statutory formula based on population,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. A countywide special election, to be held in conjunction with a primary election, is hereby called and shall be held in Miami-Dade County, Florida on Tuesday, [ ], 2011, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of Miami-Dade County the proposal for amendment to the Home Rule Charter in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Section 2. Notice of such election shall be published in accordance with Section 100.342, Florida Statutes.
Section 3. The result of such election shall be determined by a majority of the qualified electors of Miami-Dade County voting upon the proposal. The polls at such election shall be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on the day of such election. All qualified electors of Miami-Dade County, Florida shall be entitled to vote at said election. The County registration books shall remain open at the Office of the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections until twenty-nine (29) days prior to the date of such election, at which time the registration books will close in accordance with the provisions of general election laws. The question shall appear on the ballot in substantially the following form:
HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT
RELATING TO SALARIES, SERVICE, AND TERM LIMITS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL:

* DEVOTE FULL-TIME SERVICE TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOLD NO OTHER EMPLOYMENT;

* NO LONGER RECEIVE THE $6,000 ANNUAL SALARY ESTABLISHED IN 1957, BUT RECEIVE INSTEAD THE SALARY PROVIDED BY STATE STATUTORY FORMULA, ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BY THE COUNTY�S POPULATION (CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY $92,097); AND


* SERVE NO MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS IN OFFICE EXCLUDING AL TERMS PRIOR TO 2012?

YES

NO

Section 4. The form of the ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements of general election laws.
Section 5. Early voting shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of general election laws.
Section 6. Absentee paper ballots may be used by qualified electors of Miami-Dade County for voting on this question. The form of such absentee ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements prescribed by general election laws.
Section 7. A sample ballot showing the manner in which the question or proposal aforesaid will appear at this election shall be published and provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of general election laws.
Section 8. This special election on the proposal aforesaid shall be held and conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of the general laws relating to elections and the provisions of the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter. The County Mayor or his or her designee, the Finance Director, and the Clerk of the County Commission are hereby authorized and directed to take all appropriate actions necessary to carry into effect and accomplish the provisions of this resolution. This election shall be a nonpartisan election. Election officials in connection with this election shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of general election laws.
Section 9. This election shall be canvassed by the County Canvassing Board, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.07 of the Home Rule Charter.


MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER

ARTICLE-11

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

* * *

Section 1.06. SALARY >>AND SERVICE AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER<<.

Each County Commissioner shall receive [[a]] >>an annual<< salary [[of $6,000 per year payable monthly]] >>determined pursuant to general law applicable to non-charter counties<< and shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such reasonable and necessary expenses as may be approved by the Board. >>Such salary shall be payable monthly. County Commissioners shall devote full-time service to the office of County Commissioner and hold no other employment.<<

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ARTICLE-3

ELECTIONS

Section 3.01 ELECTION AND COMMENCEMENT
OF TERMS OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.


* * *

>>E. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, effective with the term of Commissioners scheduled to commence in 2012, no person shall be elected as Commissioner for more than three consecutive four-year terms. No service as a Commissioner prior to 2012 shall be considered a part of or counted toward the three term limit.<<

1Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted. Words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed. Remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged.
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