#1111-5 A Plea from Miami Beach Citizens for the Creation of a New County, June 15, 1964A PLEA
from
MIAMI BEACH CITIZEPdS
for tt~e Creation of a
NEini COUNTY
Pkr;FACE
Two years ago, the T~iami Beach Cit3T Council, the Mi.~ni. Beacn Chamber of Commerce,
the Miami tseach Committee of 100, the M_~.ami Beacki Lions Club, the Miami Beach Wgmazl~.'
Club-comprising ALL of the civic organizations of the municipality-endorsed
the movement for the creation of anew county. Recently, all of these
organizations have by resolution reiterated their endorsements.
The arguments and figures presented in this boo~.7..et were compiled by joint
committees from these organizations for presentation to the riembers of the
Florida Legislature and express the semtiments of avast majority of the citizens
of T~siami Beach.
S. B. R.OT~N.E.R,
General Chairman
Representing all Civic Organizations.
1137 Lincoln Road,
l~a.ami Beach, Florida:
THE PLEA. OF MLAi~ BEACii
TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE:
During the last quarter of a century, twenty-two new counties have been created
in Florida. Of this number, thirteen were created by the legislatures sS~ven
were created by a vote of the citizens in the new territory affected and two
by county wide referendums. In the crea,~tion of new Florida counties, therefore,
the pr@cedent of legislative creation is preponderant.
The citizens of 1"~iami Beach come again today as they did two years ago, and
ask passage of an measure creating iyIiami Beach County as a county apart from
Dade County.
This action ms impelled solely by economic and moral issues. The progress
of any community depends upon the right of the people in that community to
expend their own tax monies for the public improvments that seem totthem to be
necessary.
When Pinellas County, of which St. Petersburg is the county seat, was created
Tampa, and all of Hillsborough County made a. bitter fight against creation of
the new comity, but Pinellas County won after going before the legislature three
times. The bill was introduced by a member of the legislature from hest Palm
Beach.
Today, every citizen of both counties realizes that it was the beginning of
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a new era of prosperity for the entire section. Men of lion realize that
a similar condition would prevail in the separation of Miami Beach from Dade
County.
Primarily, we submit that Miami Beach County shou~:d be created for the physical
reason that we are separated from the remainder of Dade county by a body of
water three miles wide.
It is an unalterable fact that the problems of NLiami Beach and the remainder
of Lade County are vary vastly different. Miami Beach is a_winter resort, dependent
coley upon its ocean front and climate to attract tourists and winter residents
for its maintenance. Miami and the remainder of Dade County are industrial,
commercial and farming centers. So each shall always be.
The boundary lines of the proposed new county do not encroach upon or deprive
Dade County of any right. Creation of the new county would aid, if anything,
in the continued growth and prosperity of the communities within both counties.
N~iami and Hade county would retain all of their now-developed port facilities
for sending their industrial, commercial and farm products to the marts of
the world.
Onr ocean-front beaches would continue to be available for the used the citizens
of DadeF County and would be properly protected and maintained.
During the last fourteen months, Miami Beach has consecutively ranked among
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the first three Florida cities in the construction of new homes and the building
era is continuing. This is evidence that the population of Miami Beach is steadily
increasing and that OC~Ai1 FRONT PROTECTION to curb coastal erosions and guard
our homes and institutions is NECESSARY.
If given the right of self-development through self-government, Miami Beacrx will
attract, as home-owners, the leading financiers of America and will become the
financial center of the south, thereby insuring the financing and development
of every great industry within the state. Already, many of ~nerica~s leading
captains of finance have constructed winter homes at Miami Beach.
The rema:~nder of Dade Co my has problems of an entirely different nature;. so
many, in fact, that the MIAt~'1I BEACH problem of ocean front protection has been
sadly neglected. We hold that the protection of our ocean front is a MIAMI BEACH
problem of such magnitude that we are entitled to the RIGHT of expending our
own tax funds for such improvements.
The building era. has. brought and will continue to bring additional families
to Miami Beach and additional and improved school facilities.. are therefore,
necessary. The citizens ~ Miami Beach, because of what they have developed,
DESERVE the right to control their own schools and expend their school funds
in the operation of them. As an example of hew our school funds have been
expended, to our sufferance, we submit the following table of figures, compiled
from the records of the Dade Count; Tax Collector and from records of the Dade
County ''uperintendent of Public Instruction:
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ASSESST~iE'dT,S AND EXPEitiDITUtE;S, MIAt~+LC. BEACH FROM 1920 TO 1928, INCLUSIVE:
Figures Omited -See Original.
These figures: are bas~:d on three audits: one made by Hassell 1^. Gi11, covering
the period from 1920 to 1927, inclusive; one made for the City of ijiar~i. Beach
by L. ~. Oates, a certified public accountant, to determine the amounts of income
and expenses of our school district No. l.l.~ from July 1, 1925 to June 30, 1928,
and a fl~rther audit made by the tissistant Jtate Auditor covering the period
from January 1, 1924 to January 31, 1929, inclusive.
It Y16.11 be readily seen from these figures that Miami peach gas paid during the
eight year period, a school tax assessment of ~1,01~.,556.38 and thaxt the "ade
County hoard of Public Instruction has expended within the district only
X291,159, meaning that the huge sum of ~753,39b.88-virtually 75 percent of the
total assessment-has been used by the Dade County Board of Public Instruction
OUTSIDE OF THg DISTRICT from which it was derived.
The state audit shows there should be a balance of ~pli~1~,500 in our school bond
fund, but this amount has been transferred and used, contrary to law, leaving a
balance in the i°iA~ BEACH school district bond fu3~d of only 298.85. the bonded
indebtedness of the MIAMI BEACH district is ~p800,000.
The Dade County '~oard of Public Instruction collects a special. millage to care
for the sinking fund and interest of the bionded indebtedness of the I~AMI BEACH
school district and the tables of figures preceding pertain ONLY to the general
and special school tax funds and NOT to the bonded indebtedness fund.
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No change in our school system can be affected without changing the State
Constitution, which would require a period of at least six years from this
date.
Two years ago, a delegation representing a vast majority of the citizens
of Miami Beach sought passage of a.Nliami Beach County measure, but the
Dade County representatives refused to sponsor it. They saa.d they did not "feel
justified in sponsoring a bill that would split Miami Beach from Dade County,"
bud agreed-newspaper files proved it-that they "would devote their time during
the remaa.nder of the session to healing the storm sores(192b hurricane damage
to the shoreline) for which Miami peach citizens say they can get no help
from the Dade Commission."
They give unequivocal promises that they would enact four measures, to-wit:
(1) A bill to exempt Miami Beach from state taxes for ten years and the
use of such m~~ney for the erection of breakwater and jetties to protect the
coastline.
(2) A bill to create a Miami Beach commission to work out the best method
of protectiong for the shoreline and to hagdle aLl funds for that purpose.
(3) ~ bill to redistrict Dade County so as to give Miami peach a commissioner
on the Dade Co._~nty board.
(1~) A. bill that would give Miami Beach representation on the Dade County
School Board and a voice in the expenditure of school funds.
TJONE of such proposed measures was introduced. The result of our 192?
quest for creation of Miami Beach County w.3s the passage of a. bill making
it mandatory for the llade county Commissioners to issus'~2,000,000 in
bonds for ocean front protection at Miami Beach. The measure was declarde
unconstitutional.
Todagr, Miami Beach, with assessed valuations of more than X7,866,290.00
has no representation on the Board of County Commissioners; has no representation
on the Dade County Board of School Trustees and no doice in the expenditure
of its school tax money and is DEPI~.IVED of funds with which to provid$ .
ocean front protection for its millions of dollars worth of property.
In addition to being denied representation and the right to expend its own
funds for its own welfare, Miaani. Beach today faces a serious moral problem. The
only certain way to correct the evils confronting us is to place upon us the
fu1.1 responsibility of self-government. The limitations of our municipal
oourt makes it essential that we have full authority to govern our affairs.
Tize problems of the other sections of Dade county are sufficiently great
to require all of the efforts of law enforcement officers across Biscayne
Bait'-three miles from Miami.' Beach.
We desire, though creation of our own county, to elect enforcement officers
and court jud~es to handle filonious law violators within our own boundaaries-
without the political machinations of parsons in a physically removed juris-
diction.
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Miami Beach has: the territory, the population and the wealth tojustify
its creation as an county. If created, it would be the wealthiest county in
Florida at the time of its induction into countyhood and would rank high
in wealth among the present counties of this stake.
Miami Beach ham a citizenship that would assure the ability of Miami Beach
County to c.e.lect capable and honest officials for the creditable conduct
of its affairs.
Without quarrel, we seek sovereignty. We beg the right of self-government
without oppression. To these we are entitled and without opposition.
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EDITURIAL CO'~Il~,r:P~T
Be Careful
(EDITORIAL FROM M7AMT DAILY NEWS, APRIL 30, 192')
Whenever the state legislature assembles, it is proposed to create ab-separate --:;
to include NZiami Beach and running to a point touching the Broward sAUnty
line on the north. The acv®rage citizen views this as a whim or caprice or
ascribes it to a disire on the past of Beach resid~nts~ now that thatt part
of the county has: become populous and prosperous, to evade some of the general
burdens and strike out on their own behalf. ~nittedly, at first blush,
the suggestion of anew. county does seem somewhat grotesque, atethough the
very t.'~ing which is requested for the Beach wa+s granted by the legislature to
St. Petersburgh.
In the interest of an intelligdnt discussion and with a se~ew to lettlug the lay
mind west of the bay understand the grievances which underly this recurring
suggestion, facts which seem to be very pertinent to the subject should be
made public. There can be no mistaking the temper of the Beach residents.
They feel they have not been fairly treated, `or instance, during the perion
from 1920 to the end of the school year of 1927 and 1928, Miami "each paid
into the general county school fund ~l,OtaL~,000. Of this, the county boau d
of education expended for educational purposes on the Beach X291,659.88.
liiis takes into account only general taxes and ~oes not include interest on
state school funds, the one-mill tax provided by the constitution, the one-
cent gasoline tax,-+~~fine and forfeiture fund nor the interest on state funds
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deposited in banks. It has been unofficially computed that from these items
the county board derives on gasoline tax alone over ~34,~• It is asserted,
and so farts as we know undenied, that the Beach sold bonds for X780,000 for the
Ida NI. j~isher schmml, and that the actual cost of the project was only X6598,782,
leaving a balance of approximately X180,000. The claim is that the sum reinainirg was
used by the county board for general school purposes throughout the county.
If this is a symptom of the general policy, of the county board of education,
common prudence would suggest that some legal restraint is necessary.
the trustees of the P~i.ami "each school district make -suggestions as to the
teaching personnel, but it is aZ7.eged that nothing very much comes: from them.
From 1920 to 192$, inclusive, Miami each paid for county purposes only, not
including Baker~~s Haulover, stuns ranging from X50,000 in 1920 to X353,970
in 1928. It seems to behoove the general interests of this Greater Miami
community for some group to interest itself in harmonizing existing defferences.
Unless something is dome, it is highly probable that the legislature may give
to the beach the right to organize a separate county. While this would be a
distinct breakup in the community unit and in many respects a: highly undesirable
consummation, the Beach cannot be blamed for looking afrer its own interests
if the county continues an attitude of indifference, if not unfairness. appar-
ently it is the task of the county commissioners and the county board of education
to prevent a disintegration o-~i units. the educational board seems particularly
to be in need of good legal adirice. The procedure of taxing one part of the
county for the difinite purpose of erecting a building and using an unexpended
,.halance for generasl purposes cannot be justified in ethics or law.
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MTQNff BEACrI' S AMBITI01~
(EDITORIAL FROM MIAI"II DAILY NEWS, MAY 17:, 1927)
"'the interesting suggestion that a new county for Miami beach be created merits
serious consideration. It is indorsed by nearly everyone living within the
boundary lines of the proposed new county. 'Those who would secede from Dade
county would have their new county extend from about 22 miles south of the
Broward county line, with the center of the inland waterway through Biscayne bay adjoin•
ing the Miami city limits a+s the western boundary, as far south as Cape rlorida.
The City Council, civic clubs and the rank and file of citizens: of Miami 'each
declare that their desire for a county of their own is prompted solely by economic
motives. Ti1ey point out that the problems of Miami and T°Fiami Beach differ
greatly, that Miami is a commercial city with local and ~vverglades problems
and that Miami Beach is essentially a winter resort with its future absolutely
dependent upon ocean front protection. In facts the propoents for county dialision
contend the county causeway is the one and only common interest, from a county
stand poin,, that obtains between the two sister cities, since, they say, county
roads are not needed on the rich strip if land that lies between Biscayne
bay and the uncertain waters of the atlantic.
Every thoughful person agrees with those who earnestly favor the creation
of an new county from the rib of lbther bade that the ocean front problem
at Miami Beach is Q~magnitude and that in order to protect the ocean front at
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Miami 'each adequate sea walls and a series of groins are regarded as necessary
curbs of the ocean which displayed its ugliest mood here last September.
The fact that the establighment of anew county would cost quite a sum of
money does- not discourage those who favor coanty division. they cite the fact
that the new city hall at Miami Beach is adequate to provide for the combined
city and co~;inty offices. Tney realize it would cost in the neighborhood of
~250~000 to transcribe records and to defray other expenses incident to the
launching of anew county. l'hey are perfectly willing to bear this expense
and they point to tine fact that while other counties in Florida thajq the one
they hope to have are of smaller area, only a few of the larger counties have
greater assessed valuations than their area.
It might be that if the legislature now iri session enactes a law creating
a new county for Miami. Beach Beneficial results would follow. At all events, Miami
Beach has a case and it is presenting it in an open and above-board manner.
COJIUT:~ DIVISIOi1
(AN EDITORIAL FROi~i THE MIANIT HERALD, MAY 18, 1927)
It was the fashion in the earlier days of Florida, when a portion of an old
county wanted to be set ofi'from the parent section in order to erect a new
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county for there to be a great deal of opposition to the move.
Sow of the old-timers of Dade county will remember how much of an agitation
there was over the proposal to take off a large section of the county to form
Pa]m Beach county. The proposition was defeated the first time it was submitted
to the legislature, but won out two years later.
When the good people of the section now comq~rising Broward county wanted a
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new county and,~govern themselves, there was no opposition, the people o~
Dade county having come to the point where they realized such moves, within
reason, actually operate to the advantage of both counties.
IVOw that the people of Miami Beach hays expressed a desire to be permitted to
erect a new county for themselves, not a word of opposition has been heard
from this side of the bay and no one, in all probability, will appear at the
legislature to try to defeat the movement.
We are all beginning to learn that when any respectable number of beople express
a desire for self government, providing the movement does not entail damage
to other sections, they ought to be perr~i.tted to set themselves off into new
counties and to work out their future in their own way.
That is free, democratic government in which all our people believe.
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