10-21-08 Item 61
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT 8: LOCAL OPTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING, AN
INITIATIVE CONTAINED ON THE NOVEMBER 4, 2008 ELECTION BALLOT,
AND URGING ALL ELECTORS TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL FUNDING
FOR THEIR COMMUNITY COLLEGES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Amendment #8 proposes to strengthen educational and working opportunity through
education; and
WHEREAS, Amendment #8 offers an option for communities to demonstrate referendum support
for their community college; and
WHEREAS, Amendment #8 would, for the first time, grant community colleges constitutional
standing; and
WHEREAS, Amendment #8 will only authorize counties to place a local option sales tax
referendum on the ballot, subject to voter approval and mandated to sunset after five years. Currently no
mechanisms exist that allow a county to place a referendum on the ballot for voter approval of local
revenues in support of its community college; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. The foregoing is true and correct.
Section 2. The City Commission supports Amendment #8, giving local voters a chance to
support their community college and strengthen the community.
Section 3. The City Commission hereby directs the City Clerk to forward a copy of this
Resolution to a representative of the Friends of Miami -Dade College, the Chair of the Miami -Dade
College Board of Trustees, the Miami -Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami -
Dade County Mayor.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21St day of October, 2008.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
MAYOR
Commission Vote:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Wiscombe:
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Beckman:
RESOLUTION NO- 20)84.1
A RE,sOLLTrO, OF THE BOARD OF WFECTORS ()I< TIT
A'OAMI -DARE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITrES; EN,1,
SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL AMI >NDMENTi 8: LOCE I.
OPTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUN IN-IN ;, All I IT'LATIN E
CO'_\r'I'Al l`rrEA ON THE NOVEM[BER a, 20018 ELECTION B.-Lw r,
AND URGI?NG ALL, ELECTORS TO SUI`POF:T EDUCATTONr
FUNDING FOR THE' IiR COMMUNITY CC LLEGES.
WHEREAS, Amendment. #8 proposes to strengthen educ tonal and -,vorltfni :e o.pporni%iiry
trough education,
WUREAS, Amendment #8 offers an - option for comaru unties to demonstv to refe.-endulrc
siippoit for tlieir commtuiity_college .aad. --
�VMREAS, Amendment 0 would, for the fast tim:., grant :orn_in. nit-y ..alleges
,;oastitutional standing; and
YVI- MREAS, Amendment #8 wilt only authorize co intie! to place a local )l tion sales iax
r'eferenduin on the ballot.; stibiect to voter approval aud. ma_niated to sunset afi !r five, yem:,
Currentl no mechanisms' exist that allow a county to place a r ferendum on the L allot for vet r
1pprova1 of local revenues in support of its community colle.ze.
NOW, THERI FORE,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Mia ni -Dade County Le s. -Ue of Lit ie:;,
Section 1. The forogoing is tzue and correct.
Section L The Board of Directors of the Miami -D ride County League of ( ities :supports
Amendment #8, giving local voters a chance to support thei corn: naunity college and >treli lien - ttie
Uuuutaiuuty-
RESOLUTION NO, 20(-8-11
Section I The Executive Director of the Miami -Dade '-ouuty League of ;ities, Inc., is
directed to fonvard a copy of thzs Resolution to a represnita? ve of the Friends t f MiaJ.r,i -na:��
College; the Chair of the Miami -Dade College Board of..n stees. the Miami -Dade C )uwy .T3r, d o.
Count} Commissioners and the Miami -Dade County Mavoi .
APPROVED AND ADOPTED by !he Board of Dir-�;tors Athe Miami -bade 'ounty T eager
of Cities, 'Inc_ at vegular rrieetiz assembled this day >f September, 2008.
A TT E'S r:.
u -mom (
Secretary
APP
RD B. LE -NAK0
Cowtsel
R1CHAK) STi`ELM3 —
President.
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-11
Background Information for Community Leaders
What is Amendment 8 and what does it do?
• Basically, Amendment 8 authorizes and empowers local communities
with regard to the support of their community colleges.
• A successful YES vote on Amendment 8 would grant permission to local
communities, at a later date, to consider the question of local support
for their community college.
• If passed, a future referendum could be placed before the voters of
any Florida county, giving them the choice to provide local support to
their community college, supplementing state funding.
Why can't communities offer a referendum now ?— —
• Right now, if a local community wanted to hold a referendum about
local funding for community colleges, that community would be
prohibited from doing_so_..._Authorization is required and that is. what
Amendment 8 would provide.
Will a vote for Amendment 8 cost the voters any money?
• No. Amendment 8 generates no revenues and costs voters not one
cent. It simply grants permission to local communities to determine if,
at some future date, they want to hold a referendum regarding local
funding for community colleges.
If Amendment 8 passes statewide and a local community wants to
place a referendum before the voters at some future date, what type
of funding would be proposed?
• The Amendment authorizes counties to place only a local option sales
tax referendum on the ballot, subject to voter approval and mandated
to sunset after five years.
Do other states provide local funding to their community colleges?
• Yes. 29 states across the country provide a mix of revenue support to
their community colleges. Many of the largest community college
systems in Texas, California, New York, Illinois, North Carolina and
others receive some form of municipal or county support in addition to
state funding.
Vital facts about today's workforce
• Earning a bachelor's degree is worth $900,000 in lifetime earnings
beyond a high school diploma; associate degree earns $400,000 beyond
high school diploma.
• Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education, stated that "90% of
jobs being created in U.S. today require post- secondary educaton." A
college education is essential today.
..and about Florida's community colleges
• More than 900,000 students statewide. The State University System
enrolls just 300,000.
• 28 colleges at 176 locations, stretching from the Panhandle to the
Keys.
• Programs stretch from basic skills and English remediation to critical
workforce training, honors colleges, and associate and baccalaureate
degrees.
• Student of all ages, averaging 25 years of age.
• 41% minorities; 50% are the first in their families to attend college.
• 62% are part -time (working) students.
• More than 67,000 degrees /certificates awarded annually.
Page 1 of 1
Menendez, Maria M.
From: HORACE G FELIU [HORACEFELIU @BELLSOUTH.NET]
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 4:30 PM
To: Menendez, Maria M.
Subject: FW: Miami Dade College (MDC) - Amendment 8
Attachments: MDCLCAmendment8 Resolution. pdf; Amendment 8 vital information.docx
Maria,
Please include the reso. At our next meeting.
Thanks,
- Horace
From: Pena, Joe [mailto:jpenal @mdc.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 4:20 PM
Subject: Miami Dade College (MDC) - Amendment 8
Dear Mayor:
For your information and consideration, I am sending you a resolution approved by the Miami--Dade County_
League of Cities in support of Amendment 8 with the hope your city can do the same.
If approved, Amendment 8 will provide local communities with a real voice in the future development of their
community college. It will allow community colleges in Florida to seek a referendum on their local ballot, at a
future date, for the voters to consider. It will also grant our community colleges the same opportunity that other
bodies have to seek support from.the communities they serve.
For Miami Dade College (MDC), the approval of this amendment will assist our efforts to provide a college
education, essential in today's workforce, and allow us to keep the door of opportunity open for all those who seek
advancement through higher education.
For your perusal, I have attached a scanned copy of the League's resolution and informational literature on
Amendment 8.
Thank you for your consideration and please know that we appreciate all that you do in support of MDC!
We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Joe Pena
Director of Federal Relations
Office of the President
Miami Dade College
300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 1427
Miami, Florida 33132
office- 305 - 237 -3959
fax -- 305 - 237 -3109
Please Note:
Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees
regarding business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail
communication may be subject to public disclosure."
10/13/2008