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What We Do
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The aim of the Florida League of Cities is to promote local self-government and serve the needs of the municipal governments in Florida. This includes:
advocacy at both the state and federal levels,
increasing public knowledge of municipal services and issues,
providing municipal officials with training and technical assistance, and
providing cost-effective programs and products to local governments.
League staff is available as a resource and information service to Florida’s municipal officials. Information is available on a wide range of municipal issues and concerns. If you have questions, contact the League. If you don’t know which staff member or department to contact, e-mail our Membership Development Department or call (850) 222-9684.
Click here for a list of League services and staff contacts.
Advocacy
One of the most important services provided by the League is representing municipal government interests at the state and federal levels. It is critical that our members express their positions on current and emerging constitutional, legislative and regulatory issues, because of the significant impact these actions can have on municipal operations. The foundation of the League’s legislative activities is rooted in the belief that all politics is local, recognizing that the best strategy for sustained legislative success is one that engages local officials’ participation on a continuous basis. This year-round advocacy concept is an essential part of the League’s policy development process and impacts our collective ability to proactively advance the issues of municipalities to state and federal policy makers.
For many years, municipal officials served on a variety of League policy committees. Policy work at the committee level continues to be one of the most important activities of the League by combining the first-hand experience of municipal officials with the statewide opportunities of the League. These five policy committees meet several times during the year to study, analyze and recommend positions on state legislative issues having an impact upon members.
Click to read more about the League’s legislative/advocacy program.
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Increasing the Public’s Knowledge of Municipal Issues
The Florida League of Cities has developed a civic education program to help increase the public’s understanding of municipal government. Please visit our civic education page for a detailed listing of all the resources the League has to offer. Several projects include:
My City: I’m Part of It, I’m Proud of It! – presents a well-defined unit on Florida municipal government in a “teacher-friendly” format. Developed in cooperation with the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government, My City provides facts on Florida cities, a local government vocabulary, a civic review on city government in Florida, and five lessons.
The ABCs of City Government – an educational supplement for elementary school teachers, grades 2-5. It was developed to assist educators as they teach municipal issues to their students and for city government officials as they work with local youth in helping to increase an understanding of city government.
Florida City Government Week – an annual event in October that serves to highlight the crucial role played by city government in the lives of citizens. To request additional information about Florida City Government Week, e-mail the Public Affairs staff.
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Training and Technical Assistance
The League holds its three-day annual conference in August. In addition to the business meeting and election of officers and Board members, there are workshops, plenary and general sessions, and many opportunities for members to learn and share information about municipal issues and operations.
Each November, the League holds a legislative conference to adopt a policy statement to guide the League’s advocacy efforts for the upcoming session of the state Legislature. Click here for more information on the League's conferences or e-mail the Meeting Planning Division.
The League and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government co-sponsor two training programs – the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) and the Advanced Institute. During these intensive training sessions, city officials learn tools and information to assist them in effectively meeting the requirements of their elected role. Click here to e-mail the Membership Development Department.
Periodically, the League will hold other workshops and seminars for our members on current municipal issues. These meetings are advertised on the Web site and in League publications. Click here to view the events calendar.
Publications
The League publishes a newsletter, the Datagram, twice a month. It provides brief summaries of information of interest to municipal government.
The Legislative Bulletin, published throughout the Florida legislative session, is a summary of the Legislature’s work each week, with action steps specified for members to help with advocacy.
Quality Cities, the League’s magazine, is published every other month. Every other year, the League produces the City Innovations Showcase, which features new ideas from our members in a wide variety of issue areas.
In conjunction with the annual conference, the League compiles and publishes the annual Financial and Technical Assistance for Florida Municipalities handbook, which provides information on state and federal agency programs that assist our members. Click here for more information.
In addition, the League prepares a Membership Directory each year, and other special and annual publications as needed.
Click here for a list of League publications.
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Providing Cost-Effective Programs and Products to Local Government
The Florida League of Cities provides many innovative and cost-effective programs and products for local governments, including:
Department of Public Risk Services/Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT) - The trust, governed by elected officials, is a non-assessable, non-profit, tax-exempt risk-sharing pool that offers liability, property, health and workers' compensation programs to governmental entities. Its superior financial security, presently highlighted by $380 million in assets and more than $197 million in surplus, has produced exceptional claims-paying ability and equity returns for participants. Click here to read additional information about the Department of Public Risk Services.
The Department of Financial Services offers the following programs:
Florida Municipal Investment Trust (FMIvT) – a pooled investment program authorized under Section 163.01 Florida Statutes, that offers low-cost, high-quality investment options for surplus or pension dollars. The trust is governed by elected officials.
Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund (FMPT) – designed to provide all components of total pension administration services. The fund offers customized defined benefit plans, comprehensive defined contribution and deferred compensation plans with on-site, one-on-one employee education and advice. The trust is governed by elected officials.
Florida Municipal Loan Council (FMLC) – a pooled fixed rate loan program that provides qualifying cities a lower cost of issuance, longer amortization schedules and higher credit ratings. The League handles all administration, hiring of professionals, continuing disclosure, investment of proceeds and arbitrage rebate calculations.
Master Lease Purchase Program – provides tax-exempt fixed rate equipment financing that allows qualifying local governments to establish a "master" set of documents one-time that can be used in subsequent fiscal years to add additional equipment to the "master lease" subject to annual credit review.
Financial Technical Assistance Program – a training program in the areas of management and budget issues, program-performance budgeting, local-option gas tax computation, local-option sales surtaxes, franchise fee analysis, municipal utility tax, municipal service taxing (or benefit) units, etc. Training is available on-site and can range from one-on-one training to a workshop session with staff and elected officials.
Click here to read additional information about the Financial Services Department.
The Technology Services Department provides consulting services to assist members with questions about computer software and equipment, Web site development and other technology issues. Technology Services also offers BetterPlace, designed to assist governments in handling requests and complaints from citizens, and GovDeals, a government auction site for the disposal or purchase of surplus equipment. Click here to read additional information about the Technology Services Department.
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