Title
State Legislative Agenda - University Concurrency (NB)
Explanation
The Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida has included an initiative in their 2012 legislative agenda that requests that the legislature repeal the law regarding concurrency payments. The initiative specifically requests that section 1013.30, Florida Statutes be repealed which would exempt universities from continued compliance with local Campus Master Plan agreements and from paying for off-site impacts to potable water, stormwater, fire/rescue, transportation, etc. The Board of Governors requested a similar initiative during last year's legislative session but it was defeated in the Senate (there was no House companion bill). During the City of Gainesville City Commission's December 1, 2011 regular session, the City Commission requested staff draft a statement in opposition to the Board of Governor's proposal and submit it for approval and inclusion in the city's state legislative agenda. If approved by the City Commission, the following statement will be added to the city's state legislative agenda and provided to the Alachua County Delegation and others in the Florida Legislature.
As a host community to the University of Florida, the City of Gainesville realizes the benefits of having a major university within our community. Positive aspects such as economic development from the university, the university as a major regional employer, cultural and athletic programs, the university as an attractor of visitors to the community, and the partnerships fostered between the City of Gainesville and the University of Florida are some of the reasons Gainesville is fortunate to be the home to the University of Florida. However, for those communities that are fortunate to be a home to a major university, these same aspects create a financial challenge. Largely due to the presence of the University of Florida, more than half of the ad valorem taxable value within the City of Gainesville is exempt and does not provide revenue to the city's General Fund although the city provides municipal services to these properties, more than 50,000 students, a large number of employees, and countless visitors. Services including a robust public transportation program, fire/rescue, police services, transportation and utility infrastructure maintenance and improvements, and stormwater services are only some of the services that are provided to the University of Florida, their students, and employees.
Providing these services as a host community would not be possible without existing concurrency requirements under section 1013.30, Florida Statutes and the University Concurrency Trust Fund. Section 1013.30, Florida Statutes requires universities to pay for its fair share of impacts resulting from the university including improvements needed prior to construction. Until the State of Florida repealed section 1013.63, Florida Statutes on July 1, 2011, the University Concurrency Trust Fund was the funding source the universities relied on to meet this obligation. The City of Gainesville is opposed to the proposal by the Board of Governors of the State University System to repeal section 1013.30, Florida Statutes and any efforts by the Florida Legislature to diminish the authority of local government host communities to work with their universities and enter into agreements to ensure that adequate services are provided without creating a negative fiscal impact to the community. Additionally, the City of Gainesville supports the reinstatement of the University Concurrency Trust Fund and a mechanism to adequately maintain funding.
Fiscal Note
None at this time. Staff will determine the fiscal impact of the Board of Governors proposal and provide that information as needed.
Recommendation
The City Commission 1) add an initiative to (a) oppose the Board of Governors proposal to repeal section 1013.30, Florida Statutes and (b) support reinstatement of the University Concurrency Trust Fund, or other funding mechanism, to the city's state legislative agenda; and 2) direct staff to provide the initiative to the Alachua County Legislative Delegation and others.