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 The initiative specifically requests that section 1013.30, Florida Statutes be repealed which would exempt universities from continued compliance with local Campus Master Plan agreements and from paying for off-site impacts to potable water,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 wit...
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