HB 923

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the St. Lucie County Fire District;
3establishing an exemption from payment to redevelopment
4trust funds created by community redevelopment agencies;
5providing for the St. Lucie County Fire District to
6appropriate to the redevelopment trust fund to the extent
7funds are insufficient to cover debt service on any bonds
8authorized and issued before the effective date of the act
9but not after the effective date of the act; providing an
10effective date.
11
12     WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Fire District is solely
13responsible for fire suppression, prevention, rescue, and
14emergency medical services throughout St. Lucie County, and
15     WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Fire District derives a
16substantial portion of its revenues from ad valorem taxes and a
17substantial portion of its expenses are personnel costs, and
18     WHEREAS, the implementation of community redevelopment
19plans by community redevelopment agencies in St. Lucie County
20creates an increasing demand for fire and rescue services
21without providing the revenues to support such services, and
22     WHEREAS, the continued payments to redevelopment trust
23funds created by community redevelopment agencies in St. Lucie
24County will adversely affect the ability of the St. Lucie County
25Fire District to provide critical public safety services to the
26citizens and visitors of St. Lucie County, NOW, THEREFORE,
27
28Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30     Section 1.  Effective October 1, 2007, and thereafter, the
31St. Lucie County Fire District shall be exempt from payment to
32redevelopment trust funds created by community redevelopment
33agencies in St. Lucie County.
34     Section 2.  Notwithstanding the exemption commencing
35October 1, 2007, as provided in section 1, for bonds authorized
36and issued under section 163.385, Florida Statutes, prior to the
37effective date of this act and which remain outstanding, the St.
38Lucie County Fire District shall appropriate to the
39redevelopment trust fund established for such outstanding bonds
40an amount sufficient to pay, when due, its annual pro rata share
41to cover debt service, to the extent funds deposited into the
42redevelopment trust fund by other taxing authorities pursuant to
43section 163.387, Florida Statutes, are insufficient to cover
44debt service. The obligation of the St. Lucie County Fire
45District to make such appropriations to a redevelopment trust
46fund for any debt service deficiency shall not arise for any
47bonds authorized and issued subsequent to the effective date of
48this act, pursuant to section 163.385, Florida Statutes.
49     Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.