LeRoy Collins Institute ~ Carol Weissert , Ph. D., Director

1. Exploring Florida’s Elusive Revenues: Intergovernmental and Special District Revenues Robert J. Eger IIIFlorida State UniversityMarch 21, 2012 LeRoy Collins Institute ~ Carol Weissert, Ph. D., Director FSU Campus ~ 506 W Pensacola Street Tallahassee FL 32306-1601 850-644-1441 ~ 850-644-1442 fax

2. Focus of Today’s Presentation • Revisiting Intergovernmental Revenues in Florida Counties • The Influence of Florida’s Independent Districts’ Revenues

3. Background • Major revenue sources for Florida’s counties • Not complete unless one remembers that Florida has granted its counties strong home rule powers • Home rule powers are different for charter and non-charter counties (extended to each) • Ability to locally develop revenue-- absent conflict with general or special laws and the constitution • Less what Legislature has taken away from counties’ power

4. State Per Capita IGR Aggregate

5. IRG Definitions • State Revenue Sharing – multipurpose (county, public, other) • State Grants – specified purpose

6. Changes in IGR from 1995-2009

7. Take-Aways • No direct link between changes in State IGR and Constitutional Amendments regarding revenue limits on local governments • County IGR (shared revenue) has no discernible pattern regarding volatility

8. SPECIAL DISTRICTS

9. Special Districts Background • Statutory • Independent Districts • Dependent Districts • At least one of the following: • Its governing board is the same as the one for a single county or a single municipality • Its governing board members are appointed by the governing board of a single county or a single municipality • During unexpired terms, its governing board members are subject to removal at will by the governing board of a single county or a single municipality • Its budget requires approval through an affirmative vote of the governing board of a single county or a single municipality • Its budget can be vetoed by the governing board of a single county or a single municipality

10. Current Financial Impact • Active FY 2009 Districts • 616 Dependent • 1009 Independent • Functions (Categories with 25 or more Districts) • Airport/Aviation -27 • Community Develop – 577 • Community Redevelop – 201 • Drainage/Water Control – 91 • Fire Control and Rescue – 65 • Health Care/Hospital – 61 • Housing – 119 • Library – 32 • Neighborhood Improvement – 31 • Soil and Water Conservation – 62 • Subdivision/Maintenance – 50 • All Water/Sewer/Water management/Water Supply - 36

11. Special Districts and Board Member Property Tax Bills • Northwest Florida Water Management District • Florida Inland Navigation District • South Florida Water Management District • St. John's River Water Management District • Southwest Florida Water Management District • West Coast Inland Navigation District • Florida Keys Mosquito Control • Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas Co.

12. These 8 Districts Finances (2010) Total Assets $8,583,170,525 Total Liabilities 965,088,605 NA-Invested in Capital Assets 6,061,137,595 Net Assets-Restricted 380,154,352 Net Assets-Unrestricted 1,176,789,973 Net Assets-Total 7,618,081,920 Cash/Cash Equivalents-unrestricted 1,322,245,344 Total Debt (non-current liabilities) 706,547,852 Total Revenues 1,174,200,446 Total Expenses 1,214,629,299

13. Florida Publicly Traded Firms (2010 10-k)

14. Board Member Districts & Publicly Traded Florida Firms (2010 10-k)

15. How Special Districts Affect You

16. Special Districts • Special districts may have more cash assets than firms of similar size • Special Districts are a formidable component of government finance • Special Districts are Special since they remove the costs of services from direct government financial statements • Special Districts are Special in their ability to be removed from taxpayer “view”