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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT HB 69 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE AN ANNUAL SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES; FURTHER URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND SUCH SALES TAX HOLIDAY TO INCLUDE VETERANS� FAMILIES

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WHEREAS, Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million veterans, comprising 12 percent of the state�s adult population; and
WHEREAS, of those veterans, more than 773,000 are over the age of 65; and
WHEREAS, according to statistics from the United States Census Bureau, the veteran population in Miami-Dade County was 56,367 in the years between 2011 and 2015; and
WHEREAS, the median household income, in 2014 inflation-adjusted dollars, for veterans in Florida is $58,190, compared with $61,884 nationwide; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate for the state and Miami-Dade County to express their appreciation to those individuals who valiantly served in the United States Armed Forces defending this nation and its interests and protecting the liberty which we all enjoy; and
WHEREAS, one way in which that appreciation may be demonstrated, and which will also provide a well-deserved benefit and privilege to veterans, is through the adoption of a sales tax holiday for veterans; and
WHEREAS, sales tax holidays have been utilized in the past to great effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, for instance, on January 20, 2005 and February 20, 2007, respectively, this Board adopted Resolution Nos. R-99-05 and R-191-07, which urged the Florida Legislature to expand sales tax holidays for the purchase of personal hurricane supplies to encourage Florida residents to prepare for hurricane season; and
WHEREAS, those efforts proved highly successful, and Floridians saved approximately $10 and $41 million in 2005 and 2006, respectively; and
WHEREAS, this Board believes a similar sales tax holiday should be created for the benefit of veterans and their families, who all too often do not receive the recognition, gratitude and assistance they deserve; and
WHEREAS, during the 2016 session of the Florida Legislature, companion Senate and House Bills�SB 538 by Senator Christopher Smith (D � Fort Lauderdale) and HB 279 by Representative Kionne McGhee (D � Cutler Bay)�were filed that would have created an annual sales tax holiday for veterans for the purchase of certain retail items during November 1 through December 31; and
WHEREAS, both SB 538 and HB 279 died in committee; and
WHEREAS, during the 2017 session, similar legislation was again filed that would have created an annual sales tax holiday for veterans�SB 1202 by Senator Bill Montford (D � Quincy), SB 768 by Senator Bobby Powell (D � West Palm Beach), HB 25 by Representative McGhee, and HB 263 by Representative Mel Ponder (R � Fort Walton Beach); and
WHEREAS, SB 1202, SB 768, HB 25, and HB 263 all died in committee; and
WHEREAS, similar legislation has again been filed for the 2018 session�HB 69 by Representative McGhee�that would create an annual sales tax holiday for veterans for the purchase of certain retail items during November 1 through December 31; and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to urge the Florida Legislature to enact HB 69 or similar legislation creating an annual sales tax holiday for veterans, and to also expand such sales tax holiday to include veterans� families,
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 enact HB 69 or similar legislation that would create an annual sales tax holiday for veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to enact legislation that would expand the sales tax holiday referenced in Section 1 above to include veterans� families.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Representative Kionne McGhee, and the Chair and remaining members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to incorporate this item into the 2018 State Legislative Package.