BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Commissioners are considering designating June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, an official paid holiday for Broward County. Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in 1863, but it took more than two years for slavery to come to an end throughout the United States.
“I think this is a gesture that would go far to help in healing those deep wounds that still exist in our society. We’ve celebrated Juneteenth on a small scale here in Broward County. Many other communities across the nation are now officially celebrating the end of enslaved African people on Juneteenth,” said Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness, who brought the request to the Commission.
Recently, the State of New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts declared June 19th an official state holiday. New York City, Portland, Miami-Dade County, Tamarac, and Pembroke Pines have also approved June 19th as an official paid holiday. The only three states yet to legally recognize Juneteenth as either a state or ceremonial holiday are Hawaii, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Many national companies also promise to recognize Juneteenth as a paid company holiday including Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Uber, Lyft, the NFL, Nike, Postmates, Spotify, Twitter, and Square.
“I think that this date needs to be given as much the same consideration as any other paid holiday that we're taking off in Broward County. It is such an important event in African American history, and I think that doing this would bring a special kind of awareness. People will come to know what it is we are celebrating. I think this is long overdue,” said Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief.
“I have no objection to the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday, but it has to be revenue neutral. I can't ask taxpayers to pay more and more when they're suffering through all of these difficulties in their businesses and their personal lives and then have another paid holiday,” said Commissioner Tim Ryan.
“I think there’s a huge need for an awareness campaign through our libraries, schools, and numerous other ways, so that people know why this date is so very important. I don’t believe most people know what this is,” noted Commissioner Beam Furr.
“Maybe this could be a floating holiday, where a personal day could be used. That way, it would not close Broward County services, especially during the summer when kids are off and need our cultural arts or libraries. I think we can make it happen,” said Vice Mayor Michael Udine.
“From at least 1619 until 1861, enslaved Africans labored and toiled to build this Country, with whips on their backs and chains on their necks and their legs. Plus, the lives that were lost. How many trillions of dollars did that contribute to the building of this Country? You can't calculate that. This is already in our budget. We’re talking about $130,000 more for overtime out of a $5.3 billion budget,” noted Commissioner Holness.
The Broward Office of Management and Budget estimated the total cost of salaries for County employees for one day’s paid holiday is $1.3 million, which is currently budgeted. Premium overtime pay for essential services at the airport, port, water and wastewater and transit that must remain operational every day is $130,000 based on a past holiday and is not currently budgeted.
Commissioners directed the County Attorney to draft a resolution for further discussion and a vote at a future date.
December 9, 2020
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