Florida’s cities and counties join forces to say “Enough is Enough”
In an historical event, last Wednesday city and county elected officials and leaders held a press conference on the steps of the old capital building in Tallahassee to send a strong message to our state legislature…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I’m talking about unfunded mandates. This proposal, entitled the “Local Savings Act” if enacted, will save local taxpayers $270 million each year! This initiative outlines a bevy of unfunded mandates that can be eliminated, delayed, repealed or denied simply because they are not necessary. Below are two:
- Public Notice Requirements* – Support more options for noticing public meetings. Currently cities and counties are quired to publish (purchase) meeting notices in local newspapers. New technology and changes to media communciations suggest that local governments can more efficiently notice public meetings by utlizing internet and cable based communications. Fiscal Impact: $33 million. Does this mean eliminating all forms of published notices in local papers? NO! It just gives local government more options if they so choose.
- Sovereign Immunity* – Oppose expanding the current waiver of sovereign immunity of governmental entities in tort actions. Expanding sovereign immunity will result in significant increased costs to ALL governmental entities. Sovereign immunity is especially important to local governments, so they can carry out their police powers to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Fiscal Impact: Indeterminate. The immediate costs will be insurance rates and could open up local government to frivolous lawsuits that would have to be defended in court at the TAXPAYERS’ expense!
If it is the desire of our state legislature to continue to pass mandates to cities and counties, we need to send a strong message that funding MUST accompany these mandates! Local governments cannot continue to provide quality services for our citizens, keep our tax rates low and balance our budgets as long as unfunded mandates continue to be the “norm”.
*Thank you to the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities for providing the above information.
