86-JJRESOLUTION NO. 86- ~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF BOYNS~N BEACH, FLORIDA,
REQUESTING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR
ACCESS BY MUNICIPALLY SUPPORTED PUBLIC
LIBRARIES TO THE STATE LIBRARY GRANT
FUNDING SOURCES.
W~EREAS, the present provisions of Chapter 257, Florida
Statutes do not provide access for municipal public libraries to State
Library operating grants and instead by policy solely assist County
designated single administrative units and cities of 200,000 or more
population; and
WHEREAS, the Boynton Beach City Library is a municipal facility
supported by the City of Boynton Beach, which provides public library
services to persons residing within the City and provides these same
services to persons residing throughout the County through a cooperative
library system; and
WHEREAS, the Boynton Beach City Librarymeets public library
service needswhich are not directly metby Palm Beach County, yet is
denied access to State funded sources of library operating grants; and
'WHEREAS, the existing situation under Chapter 257 is
threatened to be yet worsened by House Bill No. 765 proposed by
Representative Bell, which would enact a 2% taxon the initial sale
of written materials and certain audio tapes including an imposition
of the 2% taxon books purchased by libraries in order to produce
grant fund revenues for distribution to only County designated library
systems and deny access to such revenues to municipal libraries; and
WHEREAS, the existing situation under Chapter 257 has
threatened to be yetworsenedbyHouse Bill No. 765 proposed by
Representative Bell by the insertion of statutorial language which
states "it is the intent and policy of the State of Florida to aid
and encourage the establishment and develo~nent of free library ser-
vices throughout the State by grants to Counties maintaining a free
library or free public library" so that pursuant to the provisions of
Part 1 and thus by statutory language specifically denying municipal
libraries State grants; and
WHEREAS, the amendment proposed by House Bill No. 765 imposes
new inequities upon independent libraries; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide municipal libraries with
equitable, fair and reasonable access to State funding sources that
are now provided for County library systems by direct grants to muni-
cipal libraries, so as to fairly share the State grant proceeds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA.
Section 1. That the State Legislature is hereby requested to
amend Chapter 257, Florida statutes, to provide for publicly funded
municipal libraries, such as the Boynton Beach City Library, to have
direct access to library funding sources now provided by the State to
County designated library systems and cities over 200,000 in population.
Section 2. That the State Legislature create new State
funding sources to assist municipal libraries in addition to county
libraries to provide vital public library services.
Section 3. That the Legislature recognize the important roll
played by municipal libraries and declare a policy to promote, assist
and facilitate the growth of municipal libraries, rather than to
ignore or attenl~t to destroy municipal libraries through financial and
support programs directed only at County libraries and municipal
libraries in cities over 200,000 population.
Section 4. That the Legislature declare the policy of the
State to be to encourage the establishment and develot~ment of munici-
pal library service throughout the State by providing grants to muni-
cipalities, through municipally supported independent libraries in the
counties that maintain free public libraries and that such grants not
be limited solely to county designated library units.
Section 5. That the Legislature provide that the sale of
materials to free public libraries be exempt from the proposed 2%
tax on written materials and certain audio tapes.
Section 6. That a copy of this Resolution be provided to the
Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, the State Librarian, the
Secretary of State and Representative Bell.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ,/~./ day of April, 1986.
CITY OF BOirNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Vice Mayo~ :~.'~
ATTEST:
City C~
(Corporate Seal)
council Member