Mayors Visit Capitol to Protect Local Citizens from State Mandates |
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Mayors join to discourage the Legislature from considering bills that endanger Home Rule rights of citizens and undercut quality of life
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008
Contact: Sharon Berrian
(850) 222-9684
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida League of Mayors (FLM), led by their president, Mayor Steve Feren of the City of Sunrise, spent today at the Capitol to speak with lawmakers about their concerns regarding several legislative proposals that threaten to strip local citizens of their authority and impose huge unfunded mandates that dictate the choices of local communities.
“There is an onslaught of legislation being considered that would further cripple not only how cities operate, but how the entire state operates,” Mayor Feren said. “We are in the final days of the legislative session and we are here to protect the interests of our citizens.”
Among the legislative concerns of the FLM are:
HB881/SB1578, Bert Harris Property Rights Bills
HB 7125, Revenue Cap/TABOR Bill
SB 2298/HB 891, Discretionary Surtax Bills
HB 949/2190, 1.35-percent tax limitation
"In a year where we have seen massive cutbacks in constituent services and the consideration of a draconian freeze on local revenues, cities are grappling with a way to meet local priorities and provide adequate services to the people we serve,” Feren said. “To impose yet more preemptions and unfunded mandates will essentially cripple our ability to provide needed services to the people we represent."
“The impact of Amendment 1 has yet to be fully realized,” said Mayor John Marks of the City of Tallahassee. “Before the Legislature goes off on more ‘reform’ of Florida’s tax system, they should wait to experience the full impact upon our citizens of what was voted into the constitution three months ago.”
In addition to meeting with lawmakers throughout the day, the Florida League of Mayors participated in legislative briefings, met with the Capital Press Corps and appeared in the House and Senate Chambers.
“The outlook for Florida’s economy is dismal right now,” said Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan of the City of Gainesville. “Government is counter-cyclical, so when the economy is down, the need for city services increases.”
The Florida League of Mayors is the official association of mayors in the state. The association’s primary goal is to provide Florida mayors with a platform to speak out on issues of urgent interest to the residents in their cities.
The following mayors were in attendance:
Mayor Ronnie Spears, City of Auburndale
Mayor Wayne Poston, City of Bradenton
Mayor Michael Teague, City of Edgewood
Mayor Mike Anderson, City of Fort Walton Beach
Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, City of Gainesville
Mayor Michael Yakes, City of Gulfport
Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth, City of Keystone Heights
Mayor Harry Goode, City of Melbourne
Mayor Delores Madison, City of City of Midway
Mayor John Marks, City of Tallahassee
Mayor Beverly Billiris, City of Tarpon Springs
Mayor Steven B. Feren, City of Sunrise
Mayor Gary Bruhn, City of Windermere
Others attending:
Vice Mayor Kathy Meehan, City of Melbourne
Jack Schluckebier; City Manager, City of Melbourne
Amy Elliott, Deputy Manager, City of Melbourne
Councilman Mark LaRusso, City of Melbourne
Vice Mayor Kathy Meehan, City of Melbourne
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