Resolution 1999-205 ,\ RESOI,UTION ADOPTING ENGLISII AS TIlE
OFFICIAl, I,ANGUAGE OF COIA,IER COUNTY GOVERNblENT.
WIIEREAS. wc cclcbralc thc contribution of all pcoplc in thc IJnilcd States, including their
languages; and
WItEREAS, in thc course of our histoD,, thc English language has become thc common
bond that has for more than two centuries enabled thc citizens off thc United States Io
conlllltlllicalc \villi O[lC another. Ibnning a nation, regardless of national backgrotmd; and
WI IEREA5. English is thc tllosI COllllllOll language spoken in Iht Umlcd Slates in 1999: thc
usc of government documents :md sc~'iccs in several languages promotes scparalion among
residents and is an inefficient usc of taxpayers' money: and
WHEREAS. as of JanuaO' 1. 1999.92 counlies, 35 cities, and 25 states endorse English as
their official or common language of government: and
WIlEREAS. adopting an official county language is a unifying action, both locally and
nationally, recognizing thc courage of our nncestors who learned English and immigmnls who
continue m learn English. and maintains the right of individuals Io develop their language.
NOW, TIIEREFORE. BE IT RESOI,VED BY TIlE BOAI{I) OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLI,IER COUNTY FLORIDA. Iha~ I}10 Board hereby adopts English
as its official language. Official acts and records will be conducled and printed in English while
county employees will not bc provided bilingual pay. We support Iht requirement lhal
Te~itorics desiring admission as a State first establish English as their one official language of
government.
BE I'F FL;RTItER RI~SOLVED thal thc ('oullty Clerk is hereby directed lo send copies of
lhis Resolution to thc Florida Association of Cmmfics. State Representatives Ires Rojas. J. R.
"Joe" Spratt, Carol Green and .I. Dudlcy Goodlclte; State Senalors Slcvc Geller. and Bttfl I,.
Saundcrs: Govc~ nor Jeb Bush: U.S. Representative f'oner Goss: Speaker of thc t louse J. Dennis
l tastcn; U.S. Senators Bob Graham nnd Connie Mack: Senate Majority Leader Trent Loth Vice
President Gore, President Clinton. former Presidents Gerakl Ford. Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan,
anti George Bush. and Former Vice Presidents Wnlter Mondale and Dan Ouayle.
This Resolution was adopted after motion, second, and majority vote.
DATED: April 13. 1999
ATTF. ST:
DWIGltT E. BROCK. ('lcrk
Approved as to lbnn anti
legal sufficiency:
~uro Mafialich
Chief Assistant County Attorney
h'Kay:Resohman
I.tO^RD OF COU×TY C()MMISSIONF. RS
('OLI.1ER COIJNTY. I:I.OI~,II)A
By: , " . .....................
PA M EI,A S. M A("K Il!. ('haim. oman