TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SEEK ALTERNATE SOURCES TO FUND CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS WITHIN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT WERE VETOED FROM THE STATE BUDGET

BODY
WHEREAS, on May 26, 2011, Governor Rick Scott vetoed more than $615 million from the state budget for fiscal year 2011-12 that had been passed by the Florida Legislature during the 2011 session; and
WHEREAS, among the funds vetoed were funds for programs that provide critical social services in Miami-Dade County, including
* DeAllapattah Community Center Hot Meals Program, $430,298;
* Farm Share, $750,000;
* Goulds Coalition of Ministries and Lay People, $100,000;
* La Liga � League Against Cancer, $100,000;
* Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center, $300,000;
* Richmond Heights Resource Center, $100,000; and

WHEREAS, DeAllapattah Community Center Hot Meals Program provides food to lowincome seniors in the Allapattah area; and
WHEREAS, Farm Share is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the recovery, sorting, packing and distribution of nutritious foods for people in need; and
WHEREAS, Goulds Coalition of Ministers and Lay people, Inc. is a community based non-profit organization with the mission of enhancing the lives and school success of low income children and to empower the residents of Goulds and the surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, League Against Cancer / La Liga Contra el Cancer is a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing free medical care to needy cancer patients; and
WHEREAS, the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers of Dade County, Inc. provides low-income, frail, isolated elderly persons and refugees with quality social, nutrition and health services, allowing them to continue to live at home, albeit with some assistance and avoid costlier institutionalization; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Heights Resource Center assists adults, children, the elderly and families to achieve self sufficiency in their daily life experiences, to diminish poverty and hunger and to promote the general welfare of the Richmond Heights community; and
WHEREAS, these programs all provide vitally important social services to members of our community; and
WHEREAS, these programs are particularly important in the economic downturn that we are currently experiencing; and
WHEREAS, this Board strongly supports all of these programs and urges Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature to seek alternate funding sources for critical social services programs within Miami-Dade County that were vetoed from the fiscal year 2011-12 state budget,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature to seek alternate sources to fund critical social service programs within Miami-Dade County that were vetoed in the state budget.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the MiamiDade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in section 1 above, and authorizes and directs that the 2011 and 2012 state legislative packages be amended to include this item.