HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #51 - Discussion Item;) t.ilfit r. #Lt i rhi
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Joseph Crassie
City Manager
lark Meer 11
Assistant to the City Manager
c November 303 1978
u s.c' Proposed Legislative Priorities.197g
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In preparing for the 1979 Legislative Session the following issues should be addres-
sed by the State Legislature;
1, Payment in full of the $9,857,000 Interama Debt or give clear unres-
tricted title to the 92,7 acres of Interama Land to the City of Miami.
The State has missed the first four (4) semiannual payments to the
City causing the 1973 agreement to be in default.
2, Provide for $200,000 State contribution each year in the City's Trade
Fair of the Americas. The State will be preparing a biannual budget,
therefore, the two year budget request will be for $400,000
3. Revise the State Revenue Sharing formula to:
a) Provide additional revenue to Cities that is lost due to the
decreasing value of the dollar resulting from Inflation.
b) Add a category for cities that are over 250,000 population to
to receive improved compensation to provide for the special
urban problems of large cities
4. Make improvements to the Gas Tax Distribution formula that would provide
a much larger share for Cities to spend on street maintenance.
Limit the City's requirement to pay legal fees of Attorneys representing
the Owners of Condemned property.
Remove the ceiling placed on Occupational fees levied by Municipalities.
Presently these rates are fixed at the October 1, 1971 level.
Return Boat Registration Fees to Cities for water oriented projects
based upon the number of boats registered in the City.
Allow City funds to be invested in securities guaranteed by Federal
"Agencies" as well as those guaranteed by the Federal Government.
Allow State. Banks to underwrite Revenue Bonds. Banks presently under-
write General Obligation Bonds and Industrial Bonds. Adding this new
category would provide cities with a broader group of institutions to
choose from when issuing Revenue Bonds.
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proposed Legislative piorties
We are also developing seveeal construction; projects that will need State assistance
and will be presented to you at a later date.
The Woektnan's compensation Law is undergoing an almost complete revision by the
legislature. The Finance Department and the Law Department are presently deafting
recommendations for changes to be submitted to the proper legislative committees.
The 1979 Legislative session will begin on April 4, 1979. In preparation for that
session there will be numerous meetings of State and Local Leagues and Associations
that will contribute to the Legislative process. The principal oegani2ations dealing
with City -State issues are: The Florida League of Cities
The Dade. County League of Cities
The Coordinating Council
Finance and Taxation are the major proplems in urban Cities today. Commissioner J.L
Plummer, president of the Florida League of Cities, has appointed me to serve on The.
Leagues Finance and Taxation Committee, Meetings will be in December and January
with the final meeting in February to complete the Legislative policy Statement for
the 1979 Legislation Session:
It is now appropriate to review these proposal with the Commission and then prepare
a completed Legislative Program:
cc: City Attorney