163.07 Efficiency and accountability in local government services.
163.07 Efficiency and accountability in local government services.
(1) The intent of this section is to provide and encourage a process that will:
(a) Allow municipalities and counties to resolve conflicts among local jurisdictions regarding the delivery and financing of local services.
(b) Increase local government efficiency and accountability.
(c) Provide greater flexibility in the use of local revenue sources for local governments involved in the process.
(2) Any county or combination of counties, and the municipalities therein, may use the procedures provided by this section to develop and adopt a plan to improve the efficiency, accountability, and coordination of the delivery of local government services. The development of such a plan may be initiated by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the governing body of each of the counties involved, by resolutions adopted by a majority vote of the governing bodies of a majority of the municipalities within each county, or by resolutions adopted by a majority vote of the governing bodies of the municipality or combination of municipalities representing a majority of the municipal population of each county. The resolution shall create a commission which will be responsible for developing the plan. The resolution shall specify the composition of the commission, which shall include representatives of county and municipal governments, of any affected special districts, and of any other relevant local government entities or agencies. The resolution must include a proposed timetable for development of the plan and must specify the local government support and personnel services that will be made available to the representatives developing the plan.
(3) Upon adoption of a resolution or resolutions as provided in subsection (2), the designated representatives shall develop a plan for delivery of local government services. The plan must:
(a) Designate the areawide and local government services that are the subject of the plan.
(b) Describe the existing organization of such services and the means of financing the services, and create a reorganization of such services and the financing thereof that will meet the goals of this section.
(c) Designate the local agency that should be responsible for the delivery of each service.
(d) Designate those services that should be delivered regionally or countywide. No provision of the plan shall operate to restrict the power of a municipality to finance and deliver services in addition to, or at a higher level than, the services designated for regional or countywide delivery under this paragraph.
(e) Provide means to reduce the cost of providing local services and enhance the accountability of service providers.
(f) Include a multiyear capital outlay plan for infrastructure.
(g) Specifically describe any expansion of municipal boundaries that would further the goals of this section. Any area proposed to be annexed must meet the standards for annexation provided in chapter 171. The plan shall not contain any provision for contraction of municipal boundaries or elimination of any municipality.
(h) Provide specific procedures for modification or termination of the plan.
(i) Specify any special act modifications which must be made to effectuate the plan.
(j) Specify the effective date of the plan.
(4)(a) A plan developed pursuant to this section must conform to all comprehensive plans that have been found to be in compliance under part II of this chapter, for the local governments participating in the plan.
(b) No provision of a plan developed pursuant to this section shall restrict the authority of any state or regional governmental agency to perform any duty required to be performed by that agency by law.
(5)(a) A plan developed pursuant to this section must be approved by a majority vote of the governing body of each county involved in the plan, and by a majority vote of the governing bodies of a majority of municipalities in each county, and by a majority vote of the governing bodies of the municipality or municipalities that represent a majority of the municipal population of each county.
(b) After approval by the county and municipal governing bodies as required by paragraph (a), the plan shall be submitted for referendum approval in a countywide election in each county involved. The plan shall not take effect unless approved by a majority of the electors of each county who vote in the referendum, and also by a majority of the electors of the municipalities that represent a majority of the municipal population of each county who vote in the referendum. If approved by the electors as required by this paragraph, the plan shall take effect on the date specified in the plan.
(6) If the plan calls for merger or dissolution of special districts, such merger or dissolution shall comply with the provisions of chapter 189.
(7) If a plan developed pursuant to this section includes areas proposed for municipal annexation which meet the standards for annexation provided in chapter 171, such annexation shall take effect upon approval of the plan as provided in this section, notwithstanding the procedures for approval of municipal annexation specified in chapter 171.
History. s. 13, ch. 99-378.