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Volusia County 2007 
State Legislative Program
Legislative Priorities

• Property Tax Reform
  As an overriding goal of reforming Florida’s Property Tax Structure, SUPPORT solutions that improve equity and fairness among classes of taxpayers as well as individual taxpayers. SUPPORT reasonable limits on the rate of property tax assessment increases. OPPOSE state mandated caps on local government expenditures/revenues and modifications to the Property Tax Structure that erode the existing tax base.

Business Relief: SUPPORT establishing an exemption of $25,000 of value per taxpayer from Tangible Personal Property Taxes;

Non-Homestead Property Relief: SUPPORT establishing an annual assessment limitation for non-homestead property of ten percent with revaluation upon change of ownership or use of the property;

Renter’s Relief: SUPPORT assessing affordable rental property that offers and covenants to continue to offer rents that meet HUD fair rent standards based upon the actual rental income of the property;

Commercial and Recreational Working Waterfronts Relief: SUPPORT allowing commercial and recreational working waterfront real property to be valued based upon the current use of the property by local option. Require that upon discontinuation of use of the property as a commercial or recreational working waterfront, the taxes that would have been due on the highest and best use of the property for the last three years become due; and

Truth in Millage Reform: SUPPORT revising the Truth in Millage process to allow the expenditures of constitutional officers to be individually stated. Provide better information during the TRIM process on functional expenditures.

• County Land Use Power Authority
  SUPPORT maintaining the power of a county charter provision to control land use and regulatory issues on a county-wide basis, when approved by the voters. OPPOSE efforts to diminish the authority of county charter provisions, county ordinances and other county regulations to control land use and growth management regulatory issues on a county-wide basis. OPPOSE revisions that lessen county oversight and participation in the annexation process, including weakening the power of charter provisions to control voluntary annexation methods.
   
• Transportation
  Recognizing that the rising costs of construction and right-of-way have reduced transportation capacity improvements across the state, while the Florida Department of Transportation has begun to re-direct capacity funds away from urban arterial roads to the Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), Volusia County SUPPORTS legislation that:
  Ensures the State’s Other Arterial Capacity Program maintains current funding levels, has flexible project eligibility guidelines, and is responsive to regional and local transportation needs.
  Ensures projects in MPO long range plans and transportation improvement programs are not adversely impacted by state transportation investment policies used to fund the Strategic Intermodal System.

Targets additional discretionary General Revenue funds for the purpose of restoring transportation projects that have been delayed or eliminated as a result of increased project costs.

Allows state funds to be used for improvement to county or local service, collector and distributor roads that provide alternative access to other controlled access state facilities.

Additionally, OPPOSE any efforts to remove the current FDOT district-level distribution of the State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation Systems (SCETS) tax.

Strategic Intermodal System (SIS): OPPOSE redirecting any state program funds to the SIS that currently benefits county transportation needs.

• Affordable Housing
  SUPPORT retaining the full amount of dedicated documentary tax revenues towards state and local affordable housing programs.
   
• Behavioral Health Systems
  SUPPORT appropriate funding for core mental health and substance abuse services, whether through the Department of Children and Family Services or Medicaid, which includes but is not limited to, enhanced funding for crisis intervention and treatment, case management, family intervention, medications, and other needed mental health and substance abuse services. SUPPORT continued efforts to work through Medicaid reform initiatives to ensure that persons with substance abuse and mental health treatment needs are appropriately served.
   
• Violators of Probation
  SUPPORT limiting the number of days a felony violator of probation (VOP) can be held in a county jail, prior to disposition, to 30 days. SUPPORT legislation enabling the use of state facilities for housing felony violators of probation while awaiting disposition and transfer. SUPPORT legislation that prohibits inmates who are sentenced for 366 days or more from serving their sentences in county jails after October 1, 2008. SUPPORT legislation that requires the Department of Corrections to pay for “prisoners” (“prisoner” as defined as an offender who is sentenced for at least 366 days or more, or a felony violator of probation that is held in a county jail, prior to disposition, for more than 30 days) housed in county jails based on DOC’s past annual estimated annual cost per day.

All of the issues that are of significance to Volusia County are listed in the Florida Association of Counties Legislative Program. Staff will monitor those issues and coordinate appropriate responses with the Council.

Funding Requests

• Water and Sewer projects
  The Volusia County Council respectfully requests the Florida Legislature’s assistance in funding the following water projects (CBIRs have been submitted on all of the following):
  North Peninsula Wastewater Collection and Transmission System - $20 million total in increments of $5 million per year for four years
  Little Haw Creek Stormwater Master Plan - $400,000 request
   
• Spring Hill stormwater, water, sewer and road project
  The Volusia County Council and the City of DeLand respectfully requests the Florida Legislature’s assistance in funding a significant program in the Spring Hill area of unincorporated Volusia County. The requested amount of $750,000 will fund the fourth phase of the needed infrastructure. The City will provide the local match for the project. The Florida Legislature provided $250,000 in funds to begin this project during the 2004 Session, $187,500 in the 2005 Session, and $300,000 in the 2006 Session.

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