R-1093-05 RESOLUTION NO. 1093-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL, MIAMI
SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE LEGISLATIVE
DELEGATION TO PERSUADE THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO UTILIZE
THE 2004-2005 DISTRICT COST DIFFERENTIAL (DCD) UNTIL SUCH
TIME THAT A NEW AND EQUITABLE CALCULATION FOR THE DCD MAY
BE DEVISED BY A QUALIFIED, UNBIASED THIRD PARTY.
WHEREAS, the 2004 session of the Florida Legislature endorsed a new calculation
of the District Cost Differential which purportedly adjusts educational funding for school
districts both by cost of living and wage levels; and
WHEREAS, the entire calculation through a statistical technique allegedly adjusts
wage levels for the value of amenities and trades wage levels for the imputed value of
those amenities for wage levels; and
WHEREAS, the validity of this economic theory has not been independently
reviewed by peer economists and educational finance experts as well as the
appropriateness of the statistical technique utilized for such an adjustment; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature never explicitly changed the statutory basis for
the DCD calculation but merely implicitly endorsed the use of the revised calculation by
the Florida Department of Education; and
WHEREAS, the use of the new amenities-adjusted DCD damages and decreases
educational funding for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools by over $26 million during
2004-2005, $58 million during 2005-2006, and $112 million when fully implemented in
2006-2007; and
WHEREAS, similar damaging effects result from the use of the revised DCD in 38
other Florida school districts, including Broward, Palm Beach, Volusia, and Monroe
Counties, and
WHEREAS, the cumulative effect of this new version of the DCD will seriously
impair the ability of affected districts to hire and retain qualified teachers and to offer a
sufficient variety of educational programs to meet the diverse needs of its clients; and
WHEREAS, the quality and viability of public education is a necessary component
for the economic well-being and development of a community and region;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL that
Miami Shores Village urges the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation to adopt as a major
priority and non-negotiable objective for the 2005 legislative session, freezing the
calculation of the DCD at its 2004-2005 level and the commissioning of a study by an
unbiased, qualified third party to review the validity of the amenities-adjusted DCD and to
recommend a new more equitable calculation methodology.
This Resolution becomes effective immediately upon its adoption.
Adopted this 15th day of March 2005.
Alk"-
Jim MCC y, M or
ATTEST:
o'
Barbara A. Estep, CMC
Village Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Richard Sarafan
Village Attorney