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EDR Releases the 2024 Local Government Financial Information Handbook

Includes Revenue Estimating Conference Results and Data

2024 Local Government Financial Information Handbook

The Local Government Financial Information Handbook for 2024 was released last week.  The publication is a reference for many of the revenue sources available to local governments and contains items useful for local government budgeting purposes, including descriptions of revenue sources, estimated revenue distributions, and adjusted population estimates used for revenue-sharing calculations. This publication serves as a guide to understanding constitutional and statutory provisions pertaining to these revenue sources; however, questions of legal interpretation should be directed to appropriate legal counsel.

 

PROPERTY TAX IN FLORIDA

A significant issue this session has been reducing the tax rates.   A number of proposals have surfaced.  The Senate is asking for an OPPAGA review in the interim.   The House has a Select Committee appointed by the Speaker. 

House Select Committee On Property Taxes will Hold Second Meeting

The House Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting –  Thursday, May 1st.  The Committee will meet again tomorrow from 2:00pm-3:30pm.   The meeting can be viewed live on The Florida Channel.

Membership of the House Select Committee on Property Taxes

The following documents are provided for background:

The committee is tasked with reviewing the current state of property taxes in Florida and exploring proposals to reduce the financial burden on homeowners. 

The Select Committee has been requested to explore potential reforms, including:

  • Requiring every city, county, and special district to hold a referendum on the question of eliminating property taxes on homestead properties.
  • Creating a new $500,000 homestead exemption, as well as a $1 million homestead exemption for properties owned by Floridians aged 65 and older, or who have had a homestead for 30 years, applicable to all non-school taxes.
  • Authorizing the Legislature to increase the homestead exemption to any value by general law.
  • Modifying the assessment increase limitations on property values.  For homestead properties, changing the cap from the lower of 3% or CPI to a flat 3% over any three-year period for all taxes.  For non-homestead properties, changing the cap from 10% annually to 15% over any three-year period for all non-school taxes.
  • Protecting Homeownership by eliminating the ability to foreclose on a homestead property due to a property tax lien.

Small County Coalition Fall Meeting

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – 7:00-8:30am – Breakfast Buffet  

Purpose of the Meeting:

  • Welcome and Orient New Commissioners
  • Receive Updates/Review Upcoming Activities
  • Fill Vacant Officer Positions
  • Adopt 2025 Legislative Agenda 

 Small County Coalition Fall Meeting – 2024 – Wednesday – December 4 – 2024 .docx

The Small County Coalition – 2025 Final Draft Legislative Program – December 2024.docx

Calendar Dates for 2024-2025.docx

The State Budget for 24-25 is signed, sealed and delivered.

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the 2024-25 budget (HB 5001) and released his list of line-item vetoes totaling $949,611,399. 

Here are links to documents for you to dig deeper into what made and what didn’t.  

Copy of Appropriations Bill – Prior to Vetoes –
General Appropriations Bill – 24-25 – Pre-Veto

2024 Budget Veto List –
Veto List of 2024-25 Budget items

Governor’s Transmittal Letter –
2024 Budget Veto Message

Pre-Veto listing of Project and Program funding –
County By County Budget Allocations in the 24-25 Budget

Important Legislative Calendar Dates

2023
December 4-8House and Senate Legislative Committee meetings
December 11–15House and Senate Legislative Committee meetings
2024
January 9Legislative Session Begins
January 16Small County Coalition Legislative Reception and Briefing
January 17Florida Association of Counties Legislative Day
January 17Small School District Council Consortium Legislative Briefing
January 17–18FSBA Day in the Legislature, Tallahassee, FL
January 24-25Rural Counties Day – FREDA
March 8Legislative Session End

 

Legislative Priorities of the Small County Coalition

The Small County Coalition – 2024 Legislative Program – November 2023

Legislative Priorities of the Small School District Council Consortium

SSDCC 2024 Legislative Priorities – Adopted – Final Revised – November 2023

Bills filed related to Local Governments and/or Education

The following lists of bills are being tracked because they have or may have an impact on Local Governments, Local School Districts or Public Education.

The bill numbers are active links
Bills filed by 12-4-23 – Related to Local Government
Education Related Bills Filed for Consideration by 12-4-23

Legislative Local Budget Requests

House Local Budget Projects filed
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/AppropriationProjectRequests/2024

Senate Local Budget Projects Filed
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Appropriations/FY2024-25/LocalFundingRequests

Small County Coalition Elects Officers and Presents Recognitions   

The Small County Coalition held the 2023 Annual Business and Organizational Meeting this past week in Orlando in conjunction with the Florida Association of Counties Annual Meeting  Over 150 commissioners and staff from Florida’s small counties attended.  Attendees received reports, Presented Recognition, and Elected Officers for 23-24.  

New Officers   

Melendy, Hawkins, Dougherty elected to lead Coalition through   

  • Elected Chairperson – Russell Melendy – Hardee County  
  • Elected Vice-Chair – Tray Hawkins – Washington County  
  • Elected Secretary – Chris Dougherty – Bradford County  

  

District Representatives   

Glidewell, Moore, O’Brien, Adams, Iglesias –  Elected to serve through 2025  

Ricky Jones, Darryl Smith, Larry Harvey, Darryl Smith, and Michelle Lincoln will serve through 23-24  

  • Re-Elected – Danny Glidewell – Walton CountyRepresenting District 1 – EC Terms  
  1. o Representing Wakulla, Franklin, Gulf, Walton, Washington, Holmes, Santa Rosa* and Okaloosa*)   
  • Re-Elected – Ronnie Moore – Madison County Representing District 2 – EC Terms  
  1. o Hamilton, Gadsden, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, and Calhoun  
  • Elected – Donald O’Brien – FlaglerRepresenting District 3 – EC Terms 2025  o Bradford, *Clay, Columbia, Union, Baker, Nassau, Flagler, and Putnam  
  • Re-Elected – Anthony Adams – LafayetteRepresenting District 4 – EC Terms 2025 o Gilchrist, Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Citrus and Hernando  
  • Elected – Ramon Iglesias – Hendry –Representing District 5 – EC Terms 2025 o Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River,  

Okeechobee, Martin, and Monroe  

Recognitions Presented   

Outstanding Leadership  

  • Lee Constantine –President of FAC   

Special Recognition  

For Outstanding Service 

  • Chair – FAC Broadband Task Force – Larry Harvey, Putnam County  
  • Chair – Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee- Susan Adams, Indian River County   
  • Vice- Chair – Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee- Kelly Owens, Okeechobee County  
  • Co-Vice Chair – Committee on Preemption Task Force –  Mel Ponder, Okaloosa  Recognition of Outstanding Assistance 
  • Kelli Williams – Florida Association of Counties  

Recognition of Leadership by a Commission Washington County Board of County Commissioners  

Getting Ready for the 2023 Regular Legislative Session

Key Dates

  • Florida Legislative Session Convenes –  March 7th
  • Small County Coalition Legislative Reception–Sittig Hall – March 14
  • Rural Days in the Legislature – April – 25-27
  • 60th day – last day of Regular Session – May 5

 Bills Filed

Important Documents

Local Project Guidelines available

The Senate and the House have released the Guidelines and forms for seeking a local Project from the 2023 Legislature.    Linked below are information released by the Senate and the House. 

Senate Local Funding Initiative Form for Fiscal Year 2023-24.

2023-24 Local Funding Initiative Request Form

House Local Funding Initiative Forms

The House released the House Appropriations Project Request Form FY 2023-24 and other materials. The 2022-24 House Rules eliminate the requirement for appropriations projects to be filed as a bill, so they will no longer need to be heard in committee. Forms are due 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023.

House Appropriations Project Request Form FY 2023-24  Due: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023.

REACH Act Directs Reduction of the number of Workforce Boards

CareerSource Florida is engaging a Realignment Process 

CareerSource Florida is exploring approaches to aligning Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards, consistent with the charge for reducing the number of local boards under the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act.   The REACH Act seeks to achieve a more coordinated approach in delivering and using essential workforce development resources and services through enhanced alignment and accountability.

Signed into law after the 2021 Legislative Session, the REACH Act is an effort to position Florida to help people with barriers to education and employment become self-sufficient through enhanced access to good jobs and career pathways that offer economic opportunity.

The REACH Act (House Bill 1507)

House Bill 1507 Staff Analysis

CareerSource Florida REACH Act Highlights At-a-Glance

A complete overview and analysis are available at https://careersourceflorida.com/boardroom/reach-act/.  This site includes an explanation of all facets of the REACH Act including the Phase 1 Report (which has been concluded), an outline for Phase 2, a full set of Questions and Answers about the processes used for developing final recommendations, and an overview of the metrics for assigning Grades to the 24 Workforce Boards.   Included with this briefing are the following –

Phase One Findings Report: LWDB Alignment Evaluation

Phase Two Scope of Work:  Discovery, Research, and Option Development

TAX HOLIDAYS AND EXEMPTIONS 2022-2024

The 2022 Florida Legislature passed, and Governor DeSantis signed into law, nine sales tax holidays or temporary exemptions and a motor fuel tax exemption. The calendar below details the dates for each exemption period. For more information, visit Sales Tax Holidays.

U.S.D.A. Rural Development a key component in supporting Rural Development
USDA Rural Development is the lead Federal agency helping rural communities grow and prosper. The primary focus of the Agency is to increase economic development and improve the quality of life in rural places and small towns. 

CS/CS/HB 153
Homestead Property Tax Exemptions for Classroom Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Child Welfare Professionals, and Servicemembers