Getting to Know Your Florida Cities
Chapter 6: What are intergovernmental relationships?
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This program brought to you by the Florida League of Cities is intended to familiarize those new to and interested in municipal government. The League is the official organization of municipal governments in Florida, designed and established to meet and serve the needs of Florida’s municipal officials.
Note: DVD visuals are indicated in olive green. The remaining text indicates DVD audio.
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Visual: Intergovernmental Relationships
To better understand them, you first need to know about the other governments.
Visual: County map.
Florida has 67 counties as defined in the Florida Constitution. As an arm of the state, or a sub-state, the county must deliver state services to its residents. These general-purpose local governments are responsible for court administration, election supervision, tax collection, recording of deeds and valuation of property, while also providing law enforcement, fire protection and several other valuable state services at the local level. The state relies upon counties to also deliver public-health services, solid waste, storm-water management, emergency response and emergency services in natural disasters, and land-use management and zoning laws for unincorporated areas.
Visual: County-related video - sheriffs, courthouse, jail, court records, etc.
A county is governed by an elected board of county commissioners, and each county also has a sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of the court, and supervisor of elections. Some counties also provide traditionally municipal services like centralized water and sewer systems. While some counties participate with federal and state governments on regional developments, affordable housing, and in providing libraries, parks and museums. Services delivered by counties vary greatly around Florida, and counties must prioritize the state's demands along with citizen needs.
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An example of an intergovernmental relationship is a county which often contracts itself with municipalities within its boundaries to deliver services like fire protection and law enforcement. Cooperative arrangements for solid waste collection, libraries, transportation and other services are arranged via interlocal agreements or contracts.
Intergovernmental relationships for cities vary greatly from city to city, city to county, city to school district, city to special district, and city to regional entity. There are different types of intergovernmental relationships that exist between special districts, independent and dependent special districts and school districts.
A special district is a local unit of special purpose. It operates within a limited boundary and is not recognized as a subdivision of local government. There are two types of special districts: independent and dependent special districts.
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Visual: Examples of independent districts.
Independent special districts are established to construct or maintain public infrastructure or provide public services. Examples of independent special districts include fire districts, water management districts, and inland navigational districts created by the Legislature.
Visual: Examples of dependent districts.
Dependent special districts are created by either a city or county, and have governing bodies that are either: 1) Identical to the governing body of a single county or municipality or 2) appointed by a governing body of a county or municipality. Examples of dependent special districts include municipal service taxing units (MSTU); municipal service benefit units (MSBU); and community redevelopment agency (CRA).
Visual: School District
In Florida, each county constitutes a school district, which is overseen by its school board. There are 67 school districts, each operating independently of its county and municipal governments, but each facility is located within these governments, and receives services like water, wastewater, garbage pickup and traffic control from these governments. Each school board is elected, and the officials serve the public education of students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Duties of school boards range from general duties such as setting a tax rate to raise revenues for school construction, maintenance, hiring teachers and other staff, and establishing, organizing, and operating schools within its district, to specific duties provided through the school board and its school superintendent such as setting curriculum for instruction, providing adequate materials for students and encouraging teachers to keep parents informed of student progress. Florida’s growing population has given Florida many challenges and opportunities to meet.
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Intergovernmental coordination agreements are the next step up on the hierarchy of informal to formal intergovernmental coordination efforts. Types of intergovernmental agreements include informal interlocal, memorandums of understanding, intergovernmental, mutual-aid and joint-planning.
Intergovernmental, or interlocal agreements, are legal agreements that establish specific roles and responsibilities between two or more jurisdictions.
Memorandums of understanding are typically used to establish guidelines for locally coordinated efforts and address specific issues.
Mutual-aid agreements are formal agreements between local governments for the provision of services. Typically, they involve several local governments receiving aid from a single government over a wide area.
Joint-planning agreements are the last type of intergovernmental coordination agreement. Local governments will negotiate standards or limitations on new development.
All of these agreements, informal to formal, help municipalities and counties combine and share scarce resources. They help prevent duplicative local government services while increasing effectiveness and efficiency. Ultimately, community improvement is at the forefront of these efforts.
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