Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1190FY0102

Funding for Florida's Regional Planning Councils

Requester:

Brian Teeple

Organization:

NE Florida Regional Planning Council

Project Title:

Funding for Florida's Regional Planning Councils

Date Submitted:

1/17/2002 1:45:38 PM

Sponsors:

J. Alex Villalobos

Statewide Interest:

This project addresses the provision of economic development assistance, technical assistance, and regional service delivery to Florida's local governments in a manner that is cost-effective and efficient. Appropriating a proper level of funding to Florida's Regional Planning Councils allows them to carry out these state mandated functions, in order to properly serve Florida's local governments.

Recipient:

Regional Planning Councils

Contact:

Ronald Book

9143 Philips Hwy., Suite 350

Contact Phone:

(305) 935-1866

Jacksonville 32256

Counties:

{Statewide}

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

The purpose of this project is to appropriately fund Florida's 11 Regional Planning Councils at $3 million.

Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) have received funds from the Legislature since the early 1970s. From the early 1980s through FY 1997-98, the RPC appropriation came from non-recurring general revenue. In FY 1998-99, for the first time in their history, RPCs were given a recurring line of funding by the Legislature for their annual appropriation. (It should be noted that each year, 70% of the annual appropriation is split evenly among the 11 RPCs, while the remaining 30% is split based on each Region's proportionate share of the state's population. The RPCs remain supportive of this traditional fund split.) The funding level for RPCs has, on average, remained constant at $2.3 million statewide since 1985. However, for FY 2001-02, the Legislature recognized the need for an increased funding level and appropriated not only $2.23 million for RPCs, but appropriated a $400,000 increase. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed $250,000, which had been earmared for a spcific project in a region, leaving a net gain of only $150,000. In addition, RPC funding was moved from recurring to non-recurring general revenue.

Local governments across the state continue to subsidize the Legislature's annual appropriation to the RPCs. In FY 2000-01, the subsidy came to a a total of $3,918,536, or 63.6% of the actual cost of implementing RPCs' mandated responsibilities, including the state's growth management initiatives and related planning and technical assistance. While this subsidy allows the necessary planning functions related to growth management to be carried out, there are many other regional programs and initiatives that go unfunded or are inadequately funded because these local reserves are no longer available.

The services provided to local governments as a result of this project are many. Some of the premier services offered that are regionally specific in nature include the following: administering revolving loan fund programs for business development and energy conservation purposes; assisting cities and towns in preparing and implementing revitalization and redevelopment master plans for thier urban cores and neighborhoods; administering health related programs; conducting fiscal impact analyses to simulate impacts of economic rural local governments; developing regional tourism promotional campaigns; and addressing regional transportation issues. In addition to being a convener of the local governments within their regions, RPC's core services are as follows: technical assistance within the context of growth management; making available a dispute resolution process; providing mapping and Geographic Information Systems assistance; reviewing, commenting, and providing assistance on local government comprehensive plan amendments and developments of regional impact; and update, amending, implementing Strategic Regional Policy Plans.

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

(1) Funding this project will result in increased services to Florida's local governments, particularly with respect to planning and technical assistance needs, enhanced performance of Regional Planning Councils, and heightened compliance with Chapter 186, F.S., and other statutory obligations and responsibilities. Florida's local governments are the primary beneficiary of this proposal, since an increase in funding will allow RPCs to better fulfill their statutory obligations without subsidizing those activities with local reserves. (2) The Legislature's annual appropriation to the RPCs is passed through the Department of Community Affairs. The Department annually enters into contracts with each of the RPCs as a vehicle for the RPCs to carry out their statutorily mandated obligations and responsibilities. Pursuant to these contracts, RPCs are required to submit quarterly reports outlining their activities for the quarter and demonstrating compliance with the contract. Measureable outcomes are provided in these quarterly reports.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$3,000,000

Total cost of the project:

$6,000,000

Request has been made to fund:

Operations

What type of match exists for this project?

Local

Cash Amount:

$1,500,000

In-Kind Amount:

$1,500,000

Was this project previously funded by the State?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

2001-02

Amount:

$2,386,250

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Yes

Amount:

$3,000,000

Purpose for future year funding:

Recurring Operations

Will this be an annual request?

Yes

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

Yes

Agency:

Community Affairs, Department Of

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Yes

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

Increased regional needs, workloads, cost of doing business

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation

Meeting Date:

11/19/2001