Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 131396
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File Number: 131396 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: R-590-13 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: BOND REFERENDUM QUESTION PHT Introduced: 7/1/2013
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 7/2/2013
Agenda Date: 7/2/2013 Agenda Item Number: 11A19SUBSTITUTE
Notes: Title: RESOLUTION CALLING A COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THE BOND REFERENDUM QUESTION OF WHETHER TO APPROVE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE COUNTY PAYABLE FROM AD VALOREM TAXES FOR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING BOND PROCEEDS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO FUND MODERNIZATION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPPING OF JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM’S FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 131317]
Indexes: ELECTIONS
  PHT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Sponsors: Audrey M. Edmonson, Prime Sponsor
Sunset Provision: No Effective Date: Expiration Date:
Registered Lobbyist: None Listed


Legislative History

Acting Body Date Agenda Item Action Sent To Due Date Returned Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners 7/2/2013 11A19 SUBSTITUTE Adopted P
REPORT: County Attorney Robert Cuevas read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Edmonson noted that Jackson Memorial Hospital’s (JMH) needs had been deferred for far too long. This was an opportunity to take advantage of low interest rates. She stated that she recently toured the main Hospital campus and she saw the transformation occurring, it was clear that the medical staff and employees were dedicated to this institution, however support was needed to retain these professionals. Commissioner Edmonson said the people should have their say in the long term investment of JMH. She noted if the ballot question was approved it was her intent to create follow up legislation. JMH would be required to submit prior capital projects as part of their annual budget and issuance of GOB that will require board approval, she pointed out that she strongly felt that close oversight needed to be maintained over the Public Health Trust’s (PHT) General Obligation Bond (GOB) program because it will be funded by property taxes and would impact the county’s total millage rate. Commissioner Edmonson also noted that if the ballot question passed she intended to create legislation to amend the county’s operating agreement with the PHT to memorialize procedures for the GOB program. She explained that the tax payers needed to be assured that the funds would be used as they are intended to be used. Commissioner Edmonson noted that she would sponsor legislation to require the PHT to report to the county on a quarterly basis to including contract awards made with certified businesses as well as awards that will be determined by local preference. Commissioner Moss noted that he was in support of the foregoing proposed resolution and encouraged the community go vote in support of this item. He noted that health care reform was coming soon and JMH needed to remain as competitive as possible. He expressed his concern regarding urgent care facilities and creating an environment in the hospital that would make JMH competitive. Commissioner Zapata noted that he was uncomfortable with this resolution and felt this was asking too much from the tax payers therefore he was not in support of the foregoing proposed resolution at this time. Chairwoman Sosa noted that the doctors and the quality of care were excellent at JMH, but that was not the subject matter today. She pointed out that she did not want the public to be taxed indefinitely and noted an end date to the proposed tax needed to be added to this resolution. Chairwoman Sosa noted that this would make Jackson a very competitive hospital to bring paying patients to subsidize and help patients what were unable to pay. Mayor Carlos Gimenez noted that when Jackson was in dire straits, there was a need for approximately a billion dollars in capital in order to make JMH competitive but that was before healthcare reform came about. He noted that while he was supportive of allowing voters to decide, he believed that the county needed to take a fundamental review of what JMH will be in the future in light of the way healthcare is evolving.

Office of the Chairperson 7/1/2013 Additions

County Attorney 7/1/2013 Assigned Geri Bonzon-Keenan

Legislative Text


TITLE
RESOLUTION CALLING A COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THE BOND REFERENDUM QUESTION OF WHETHER TO APPROVE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE COUNTY PAYABLE FROM AD VALOREM TAXES FOR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING BOND PROCEEDS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO FUND MODERNIZATION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPPING OF JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM�S FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY

BODY

WHEREAS, at the request of the Public Health Trust, this Board finds it necessary and appropriate and in the best interest of the County and its citizens to hold a special election to submit a bond referendum to the electors of Miami-Dade County to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds (the "Bonds") in a principal amount not to exceed $830,000,000.00, as needed, in one or more series from time to time, which Bonds will be payable from ad valorem taxes collected within the County; and
WHEREAS, proceeds from such Bonds will be made available to the Public Health Trust so that it may fund a substantial portion of its capital needs without negatively affecting its revenues which are needed to maintain and operate the Jackson Health System, including Jackson Hospital�s main, south and north campuses; and
WHEREAS, Section 100.201, Florida Statutes, provides that whenever the Board of County Commissioners shall have the power to call such a bond referendum special election, �the election costs of such referendum shall be paid � out of the County � treasury;� and


WHEREAS, if the issuance of the Bonds is approved by a majority of the County�s qualified electors, the County may issue such Bonds only after Board approval of such issuance in accordance with State and local law,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The preamble to this Resolution is approved and incorporated in this Resolution by reference.
Section 2. A countywide special election is hereby called and shall be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the County the bond referendum question as set forth below in Section 4 of this Resolution.
Section 3. Notice of such special election shall be published in accordance with Section 100.342, Florida Statutes.
Section 4. 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:

FUNDING MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM THROUGH ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

SHALL MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FUND [[THE]] MODERNIZATION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPPING OF JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM�S FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT [[MIAMI-DADE]] >>THE<< COUNTY >>, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EMERGENCY ROOMS, CHILDREN�S AMBULATORY PAVILION AND URGENT CARE CENTERS,<< BY ISSUING, FROM TIME TO TIME, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS PAYABLE FROM AD VALOREM TAXES COLLECTED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN [[A]] PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING >>$830,000,000<< [[$830,000,000.00]], BEARING INTEREST NOT EXCEEDING [[THE]] MAXIMUM LEGAL RATE AND MATURING WITHIN 30 YEARS FROM [[THE]] ISSUANCE DATE?

FOR BONDS

AGAINST BONDS

Section 5. The form of the ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements of general election laws and Section 100.341, Florida Statutes.
Section 6. Early voting shall be conducted for fourteen days ending on November 3, 2013. There shall be twenty early voting sites whose locations and hours of operation shall be at the discretion of the Supervisor of Elections.
Section 7. 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 8. 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 9. This special election on the bond referendum 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. Election officials in connection with this election shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of general election laws.
Section 10. The ballots for this election shall be canvassed by the County Canvassing Board and the returns shall be reported to the Board of County Commissioners which shall [[ratify the]] canvass the returns and declare the results of the bond referendum.



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