§ 22-128. Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Service Taxing Unit.

(a)

Taxing unit created. A municipal service taxing unit (MSTU) is hereby created pursuant to F.S. § 125.01(1)(q), which encompasses the following geographic areas, lying between Mile Marker 40 at the southern end of the Seven Mile Bridge, and Mile Marker 65:

The entire City of Marathon, Florida, including Grassy Key and any offshore islands within the municipality;

The entire City of Key Colony Beach, including any offshore islands within the municipality; and

That portion of unincorporated Monroe County lying between Mile Marker 40 and Mile Marker 65, including but not limited to Duck Key including Hawk's Cay (Indies Island), and Conch Key, excluding any offshore islands within the unincorporated county.

These areas correspond to the following taxing districts designated by the Monroe County Property Appraiser's Officer existing as of 1-1-2018:

(1)

50CM—Part of City of Marathon.

(2)

51CM—Part of City of Marathon.

(3)

50KC—City of Key Colony Beach.

(4)

500D—Part of Unincorporated Duck Key.

(5)

510D—Unincorporated Conch Key.

(6)

520D—Part of Unincorporated Duck Key.

(b)

Name of unit. The name of the MSTU shall be the Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Service Taxing Unit (hereinafter, the taxing unit).

(c)

Purpose of unit. The taxing unit shall be established to ensure the availability of hospital services within the taxing unit by financially supporting the delivery of hospital services to patients who are unable to pay the full costs of such services.

(d)

Public purpose. It is hereby found, declared and determined by the board of county commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, that the provision of adequate health care facilities and services fosters the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens, as well as visitors, of the taxing unit, and therefore serves a paramount public purpose. It is hereby further declared and determined by the board of county commissioners that the services to be funded with ad valorem taxes levied and collected pursuant to this section are municipal services as contemplated in F.S. § 125.01(l)(q) and (r), and that they shall be provided within the taxing unit. The intention of the board of county commissioners is to levy a tax to fund these municipal services on the taxable valuation of all real property within the taxing unit.

(e)

Governing board. The governing board of the taxing unit is the board of county commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. The governing board shall have all powers, authority and duties outlined in F.S. § 125.01(l)(q) and (r), including, without limitation, the power and authority to levy and collect taxes, and the power to enter into contractual obligations to accomplish the purposes set forth in this section.

(f)

Levy of tax. The board of county commissioners of Monroe County shall adopt an annual budget for the Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Service Taxing Unit, commencing with county fiscal year 2019, at the same time and in the same manner as the county budget. The levy by the board of county commissioners shall be by annual resolution, beginning with county fiscal year 2019, for a maximum of ten years. The amount to be levied shall be set each year, but shall not exceed a maximum of one-half of one mill (0.00050) on the assessed valuation of taxable real property in the taxing unit. The millage shall be set and the tax levied thereon in accordance with the provisions and in like manner as required for the setting of other county ad valorem taxes.

(g)

Use of taxes. Revenues from ad valorem taxes levied within the Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Service Taxing Unit shall be used solely for payments to hospital operators for the delivery of hospital services to patients who are unable to pay the full costs of such services. The levy, collection and disbursement of taxes for this purpose is contingent upon the occurrence of all of the following: (i) adoption by Monroe County of this section; (ii) adoption of ordinances consenting to the inclusion in the taxing unit of the municipalities of Marathon and Key Colony Beach by their respective governing bodies, as required by F.S. § 125.01(1)(q), (h); (iii) approval of an agreement between Monroe County and Fishermen's, or another future hospital operator, setting forth the terms and conditions by which the ad valorem taxes will be paid; and (iv) the planning, design and construction of a new hospital within the taxing unit in accordance with milestones set forth in an agreement between the county and Fishermen's.

(h)

Fiscal management. All taxes levied within the taxing unit shall be due and payable and collected in the same manner proscribed by law for other county ad valorem taxes. The revenues collected shall be received, held, and secured in the same manner as other funds by the clerk of the court and shall be used exclusively for the purposes provided in this section.

( Ord. No. 012-2018 , § 1)