Special Districts

Question 1

What are special districts?

Answer 1

1. Unit of LG.
2. For specific purp.
3. In a specific area.
4. Created by gen law, spec. act, local ord, or gov.

Question 2

What do spec dist include?

Answer 2

It’s a Special day when . . .

Hospital (is on) Fire (get) Water (go to) Airport.

Question 3

What are excluded from spec dist?

Answer 3

Special improvement dist.
School dist.
MSTU.
Elec serv board.

Question 4

What pwrs do Spec Dist have?

Answer 4

Express powers only found in Charter.
NO IMPLIED PWRS. Stuck as if pre-1968.
If want to take action first, go to its charter to see if it is authorized.

Question 5

What makes Dependent?

Answer 5

• Governing body
Or
• Budget
is controlled by a single county or city.

Question 6

How define an Indep Spec Dist?

Answer 6

1. Not dependent, under §189.012(2)
   OR
2. Any special district across multi-counties, unless lies within a single city.

So if reaches across 2 counties, it is automatically an independent, unless stays within 1 city

Ex. If within city of Longboat Key even if in 2 counties could still be a dependent (I think this is what she is saying.)

Question 7

If a spec dist reaches across 2 COUNTIES, how does that change its character?

Answer 7

Automatically an independent UNLESS stays within 1 city.

Why? b/c dfn of “dependent” is governing body is identical to that of a single county or muni.

Question 8

If a spec dist reaches across 2 CITIES, how does that change its character?

Answer 8

It’s indep UNLESS both cities are in 1 county. Which seems likely.
Why? b/c dfn of “dependent” is governing body is identical to that of a single county or muni.

Question 9

What must be maintained on special district website?

Answer 9

Website is mandatory & must include:

1.   Full legal name.
2.  Purpose.
3.  Name, contact, term + appointing authority of each mbr.
4.  Fiscal year.
5.  Full text of charter & statutes it operates under.
6.  Contact info.
7.   Its boundaries.
8.   All taxes, fees, assessments charged + collectedw/ authority.
9.  Primary contact for communication from DEO.
10.  Code of ethics w/ hyperlink.
11.  Budget
12.  Audit report.
13.  Listing of its regularly scheduled public meetings
14.  Link to the Department of Financial Services’ website.
15.  Agenda 7 days in advance

Question 10

How long must info be on its website?

Answer 10

1 year after the event.

Question 11

Bonds issued by special district must meet 1 of what 4 statements?

Answer 11

1. Bonds rated in 1 of the highest 4 ratings by a nationally recognized rating service;
2. Privately placed or otherwise sold to accredited
   investors;
3. Backed by a letter of credit; or
4. Independent financial advisory opinion that debt service coverage & probability of debt repayment are
   reasonable.

Question 12

What type of bonds issued by special district do not have to meet 1 of the 4 statutorily prescribed requirements?
[high rating, privately placed, ltr of credit, opinion]

Answer 12

Approved by referendum.

Question 13

A “Dependent Special District” is a special district in which:
(a) the membership of its governing body is identical to the governing body of a single county or muni
(b) all members of the governing body are appointed by the governing body of a single county or muni
(c) members of the governing body are subject to removal by the governing body of a single county or muni
(d) all of the above

Answer 13

D

Question 14

If the members of a special district’s governing body are subject to removal by the governing body of a single county, the special district is a “dependent special district.”

Answer 14

TRUE

Question 15

A district that includes more than 1 county is always an independent district, unless the district is wholly within the boundaries of a single municipality.

Answer 15

TRUE