212.055  Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; authorization and use of proceeds.--It is the legislative intent that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as provided in s. 212.054.

(1)  CHARTER COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM SURTAX.--

(a)  Each charter county which adopted a charter prior to June 1, 1976, and each county the government of which is consolidated with that of one or more municipalities, may levy a discretionary sales surtax, subject to approval by a majority vote of the electorate of the county or by a charter amendment approved by a majority vote of the electorate of the county.

(b)  The rate shall be up to 1 percent.

(c)  The proposal to adopt a discretionary sales surtax as provided in this subsection and to create a trust fund within the county accounts shall be placed on the ballot in accordance with law at a time to be set at the discretion of the governing body.

(d)  Proceeds from the surtax shall be applied to as many or as few of the uses enumerated below in whatever combination the county commission deems appropriate:

1.  Deposited by the county in the trust fund and shall be used for the purposes of development, construction, equipment, maintenance, operation, supportive services, including a countywide bus system, and related costs of a fixed guideway rapid transit system;

2.  Remitted by the governing body of the county to an expressway or transportation authority created by law to be used, at the discretion of such authority, for the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of roads or bridges in the county, for the operation and maintenance of a bus system, for the payment of principal and interest on existing bonds issued for the construction of such roads or bridges, and, upon approval by the county commission, such proceeds may be pledged for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new bonds issued for the construction of such roads or bridges; and

3.  For each county, as defined in s. 125.011(1), used for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of roads and bridges in the county; for the expansion, operation, and maintenance of bus and fixed guideway systems; and for the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for the construction of fixed guideway rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges; and such proceeds may be pledged by the governing body of the county for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new bonds issued for the construction of such fixed guideway rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges and no more than 25 percent used for nontransit uses.

(2)  LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX.--

(a)1.  The governing authority in each county may levy a discretionary sales surtax of 0.5 percent or 1 percent. The levy of the surtax shall be pursuant to ordinance enacted by a majority of the members of the county governing authority and approved by a majority of the electors of the county voting in a referendum on the surtax. If the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's population adopt uniform resolutions establishing the rate of the surtax and calling for a referendum on the surtax, the levy of the surtax shall be placed on the ballot and shall take effect if approved by a majority of the electors of the county voting in the referendum on the surtax.

2.  If the surtax was levied pursuant to a referendum held before July 1, 1993, the surtax may not be levied beyond the time established in the ordinance, or, if the ordinance did not limit the period of the levy, the surtax may not be levied for more than 15 years. The levy of such surtax may be extended only by approval of a majority of the electors of the county voting in a referendum on the surtax.

(b)  A statement which includes a brief general description of the projects to be funded by the surtax and which conforms to the requirements of s. 101.161 shall be placed on the ballot by the governing authority of any county which enacts an ordinance calling for a referendum on the levy of the surtax or in which the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's population adopt uniform resolutions calling for a referendum on the surtax. The following question shall be placed on the ballot:

¹(c)  Pursuant to s. 212.054(4), the proceeds of the surtax levied under this subsection shall be distributed to the county and the municipalities within such county in which the surtax was collected, according to:

1.  An interlocal agreement between the county governing authority and the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's municipal population, which agreement may include a school district with the consent of the county governing authority and the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's municipal population; or

2.  If there is no interlocal agreement, according to the formula provided in s. 218.62.

Any change in the distribution formula must take effect on the first day of any month that begins at least 60 days after written notification of that change has been made to the department.

(d)1.  The proceeds of the surtax authorized by this subsection and any interest accrued thereto shall be expended by the school district or within the county and municipalities within the county, or, in the case of a negotiated joint county agreement, within another county, to finance, plan, and construct infrastructure and to acquire land for public recreation or conservation or protection of natural resources and to finance the closure of county-owned or municipally owned solid waste landfills that are already closed or are required to close by order of the Department of Environmental Protection. Any use of such proceeds or interest for purposes of landfill closure prior to July 1, 1993, is ratified. Neither the proceeds nor any interest accrued thereto shall be used for operational expenses of any infrastructure, except that any county with a population of less than 75,000 that is required to close a landfill by order of the Department of Environmental Protection may use the proceeds or any interest accrued thereto for long-term maintenance costs associated with landfill closure. Counties, as defined in s. 125.011(1), and charter counties may, in addition, use the proceeds and any interest accrued thereto to retire or service indebtedness incurred for bonds issued prior to July 1, 1987, for infrastructure purposes, and for bonds subsequently issued to refund such bonds. Any use of such proceeds or interest for purposes of retiring or servicing indebtedness incurred for such refunding bonds prior to July 1, 1999, is ratified.

2.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "infrastructure" means:

a.  Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital outlay associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of public facilities which have a life expectancy of 5 or more years and any land acquisition, land improvement, design, and engineering costs related thereto.

b.  A fire department vehicle, an emergency medical service vehicle, a sheriff's office vehicle, a police department vehicle, or any other vehicle, and such equipment necessary to outfit the vehicle for its official use or equipment that has a life expectancy of at least 5 years.

3.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a discretionary sales surtax imposed or extended after the effective date of this act may provide for an amount not to exceed 15 percent of the local option sales surtax proceeds to be allocated for deposit to a trust fund within the county's accounts created for the purpose of funding economic development projects of a general public purpose targeted to improve local economies, including the funding of operational costs and incentives related to such economic development. The ballot statement must indicate the intention to make an allocation under the authority of this subparagraph.

(e)  School districts, counties, and municipalities receiving proceeds under the provisions of this subsection may pledge such proceeds for the purpose of servicing new bond indebtedness incurred pursuant to law. Local governments may use the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration pursuant to the State Bond Act to issue any bonds through the provisions of this subsection. In no case may a jurisdiction issue bonds pursuant to this subsection more frequently than once per year. Counties and municipalities may join together for the issuance of bonds authorized by this subsection.

(f)  Counties and municipalities shall not use the surtax proceeds to supplant or replace user fees or to reduce ad valorem taxes existing prior to the levy of the surtax authorized by this subsection.

(g)1.  Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a county that has a population of 50,000 or less on April 1, 1992, or any county designated as an area of critical state concern on the effective date of this act, and that imposed the surtax before July 1, 1992, may use the proceeds and interest of the surtax for any public purpose if:

a.  The debt service obligations for any year are met;

b.  The county's comprehensive plan has been determined to be in compliance with part II of chapter 163; and

c.  The county has adopted an amendment to the surtax ordinance pursuant to the procedure provided in s. 125.66 authorizing additional uses of the surtax proceeds and interest.

2.  A municipality located within a county that has a population of 50,000 or less on April 1, 1992, or within a county designated as an area of critical state concern on the effective date of this act, and that imposed the surtax before July 1, 1992, may not use the proceeds and interest of the surtax for any purpose other than an infrastructure purpose authorized in paragraph (d) unless the municipality's comprehensive plan has been determined to be in compliance with part II of chapter 163 and the municipality has adopted an amendment to its surtax ordinance or resolution pursuant to the procedure provided in s. 166.041 authorizing additional uses of the surtax proceeds and interest. Such municipality may expend the surtax proceeds and interest for any public purpose authorized in the amendment.

3.  Those counties designated as an area of critical state concern which qualify to use the surtax for any public purpose may use only up to 10 percent of the surtax proceeds for any public purpose other than for infrastructure purposes authorized by this section.

(h)  Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a county in which 40 percent or more of the just value of real property is exempt or immune from ad valorem taxation, and the municipalities within such a county, may use the proceeds and interest of the surtax for operation and maintenance of parks and recreation programs and facilities established with the proceeds of the surtax.

(i)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a county shall not levy local option sales surtaxes authorized in this subsection and subsections (3), (4), (5), and (6) in excess of a combined rate of 1 percent.

(3)  SMALL COUNTY SURTAX.--

(a)  The governing authority in each county that has a population of 50,000 or less on April 1, 1992, may levy a discretionary sales surtax of 0.5 percent or 1 percent. The levy of the surtax shall be pursuant to ordinance enacted by an extraordinary vote of the members of the county governing authority if the surtax revenues are expended for operating purposes. If the surtax revenues are expended for the purpose of servicing bond indebtedness, the surtax shall be approved by a majority of the electors of the county voting in a referendum on the surtax.

(b)  A statement that includes a brief general description of the projects to be funded by the surtax and conforms to the requirements of s. 101.161 shall be placed on the ballot by the governing authority of any county that enacts an ordinance calling for a referendum on the levy of the surtax for the purpose of servicing bond indebtedness. The following question shall be placed on the ballot:

(c)  Pursuant to s. 212.054(4), the proceeds of the surtax levied under this subsection shall be distributed to the county and the municipalities within the county in which the surtax was collected, according to:

1.  An interlocal agreement between the county governing authority and the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's municipal population, which agreement may include a school district with the consent of the county governing authority and the governing bodies of the municipalities representing a majority of the county's municipal population; or

2.  If there is no interlocal agreement, according to the formula provided in s. 218.62.

Any change in the distribution formula shall take effect on the first day of any month that begins at least 60 days after written notification of that change has been made to the department.

(d)1.  If the surtax is levied pursuant to a referendum, the proceeds of the surtax and any interest accrued thereto may be expended by the school district or within the county and municipalities within the county, or, in the case of a negotiated joint county agreement, within another county, for the purpose of servicing bond indebtedness to finance, plan, and construct infrastructure and to acquire land for public recreation or conservation or protection of natural resources. However, if the surtax is levied pursuant to an ordinance approved by an extraordinary vote of the members of the county governing authority, the proceeds and any interest accrued thereto may be used for operational expenses of any infrastructure or for any public purpose authorized in the ordinance under which the surtax is levied.

2.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "infrastructure" means any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital costs associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of public facilities that have a life expectancy of 5 or more years and any land acquisition, land improvement, design, and engineering costs related thereto.

(e)  A school district, county, or municipality that receives proceeds under this subsection following a referendum may pledge the proceeds for the purpose of servicing new bond indebtedness incurred pursuant to law. Local governments may use the services of the Division of Bond Finance pursuant to the State Bond Act to issue any bonds through the provisions of this subsection. A jurisdiction may not issue bonds pursuant to this subsection more frequently than once per year. A county and municipality may join together to issue bonds authorized by this subsection.

(f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a county shall not levy local option sales surtaxes authorized in this subsection and subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6) in excess of a combined rate of 1 percent.

(4)  INDIGENT CARE SURTAX.--

²(a)  The governing body in each county the government of which is not consolidated with that of one or more municipalities, which has a population of at least 800,000 residents and is not authorized to levy a surtax under subsection (5) or subsection (6), may levy, pursuant to an ordinance either approved by an extraordinary vote of the governing body or conditioned to take effect only upon approval by a majority vote of the electors of the county voting in a referendum, a discretionary sales surtax at a rate that may not exceed 0.5 percent.

(b)  If the ordinance is conditioned on a referendum, a statement that includes a brief and general description of the purposes to be funded by the surtax and that conforms to the requirements of s. 101.161 shall be placed on the ballot by the governing body of the county. The following questions shall be placed on the ballot:

(c)  The ordinance adopted by the governing body providing for the imposition of the surtax shall set forth a plan for providing health care services to qualified residents, as defined in paragraph (d). Such plan and subsequent amendments to it shall fund a broad range of health care services for both indigent persons and the medically poor, including, but not limited to, primary care and preventive care as well as hospital care. It shall emphasize a continuity of care in the most cost-effective setting, taking into consideration both a high quality of care and geographic access. Where consistent with these objectives, it shall include, without limitation, services rendered by physicians, clinics, community hospitals, mental health centers, and alternative delivery sites, as well as at least one regional referral hospital where appropriate. It shall provide that agreements negotiated between the county and providers will include reimbursement methodologies that take into account the cost of services rendered to eligible patients, recognize hospitals that render a disproportionate share of indigent care, provide other incentives to promote the delivery of charity care, and require cost containment including, but not limited to, case management. It must also provide that any hospitals that are owned and operated by government entities on May 21, 1991, must, as a condition of receiving funds under this subsection, afford public access equal to that provided under s. 286.011 as to meetings of the governing board, the subject of which is budgeting resources for the rendition of charity care as that term is defined in the Florida Hospital Uniform Reporting System (FHURS) manual referenced in s. 408.07. The plan shall also include innovative health care programs that provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods of service delivery and funding.

(d)  For the purpose of this subsection, the term "qualified resident" means residents of the authorizing county who are:

1.  Qualified as indigent persons as certified by the authorizing county;

2.  Certified by the authorizing county as meeting the definition of the medically poor, defined as persons having insufficient income, resources, and assets to provide the needed medical care without using resources required to meet basic needs for shelter, food, clothing, and personal expenses; or not being eligible for any other state or federal program, or having medical needs that are not covered by any such program; or having insufficient third-party insurance coverage. In all cases, the authorizing county is intended to serve as the payor of last resort; or

3.  Participating in innovative, cost-effective programs approved by the authorizing county.

(e)  Moneys collected pursuant to this subsection remain the property of the state and shall be distributed by the Department of Revenue on a regular and periodic basis to the clerk of the circuit court as ex officio custodian of the funds of the authorizing county. The clerk of the circuit court shall:

1.  Maintain the moneys in an indigent health care trust fund;

2.  Invest any funds held on deposit in the trust fund pursuant to general law; and

3.  Disburse the funds, including any interest earned, to any provider of health care services, as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), upon directive from the authorizing county.

(f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a county shall not levy local option sales surtaxes authorized in this subsection and subsections (2) and (3) in excess of a combined rate of 1 percent.

(g)  This subsection expires October 1, 2005.

(5)  COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL SURTAX.--Any county as defined in s. 125.011(1) may levy the surtax authorized in this subsection pursuant to an ordinance either approved by extraordinary vote of the county commission or conditioned to take effect only upon approval by a majority vote of the electors of the county voting in a referendum. In a county as defined in s. 125.011(1), for the purposes of this subsection, "county public general hospital" means a general hospital as defined in s. 395.002 which is owned, operated, maintained, or governed by the county or its agency, authority, or public health trust.

(a)  The rate shall be 0.5 percent.

(b)  If the ordinance is conditioned on a referendum, the proposal to adopt the county public hospital surtax shall be placed on the ballot in accordance with law at a time to be set at the discretion of the governing body. The referendum question on the ballot shall include a brief general description of the health care services to be funded by the surtax.

(c)  Proceeds from the surtax shall be:

1.  Deposited by the county in a special fund, set aside from other county funds, to be used only for the operation, maintenance, and administration of the county public general hospital; and

2.  Remitted promptly by the county to the agency, authority, or public health trust created by law which administers or operates the county public general hospital.

(d)  The county shall continue to contribute each year at least 80 percent of that percentage of the total county budget appropriated for the operation, administration, and maintenance of the county public general hospital from the county's general revenues in the fiscal year of the county ending September 30, 1991.

(e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a county may not levy local option sales surtaxes authorized in this subsection and subsections (2) and (3) in excess of a combined rate of 1 percent.

(6)  SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY SURTAX.--

(a)  The school board in each county may levy, pursuant to resolution conditioned to take effect only upon approval by a majority vote of the electors of the county voting in a referendum, a discretionary sales surtax at a rate that may not exceed 0.5 percent.

(b)  The resolution shall include a statement that provides a brief and general description of the school capital outlay projects to be funded by the surtax. If applicable, the resolution must state that the district school board has been recognized by the State Board of Education as having a Florida Frugal Schools Program. The statement shall conform to the requirements of s. 101.161 and shall be placed on the ballot by the governing body of the county. The following question shall be placed on the ballot:

(c)  The resolution providing for the imposition of the surtax shall set forth a plan for use of the surtax proceeds for fixed capital expenditures or fixed capital costs associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of school facilities and campuses which have a useful life expectancy of 5 or more years, and any land acquisition, land improvement, design, and engineering costs related thereto. Additionally, the plan shall include the costs of retrofitting and providing for technology implementation, including hardware and software, for the various sites within the school district. Surtax revenues may be used for the purpose of servicing bond indebtedness to finance projects authorized by this subsection, and any interest accrued thereto may be held in trust to finance such projects. Neither the proceeds of the surtax nor any interest accrued thereto shall be used for operational expenses. If the district school board has been recognized by the State Board of Education as having a Florida Frugal Schools Program, the district's plan for use of the surtax proceeds must be consistent with this subsection and with uses assured under the Florida Frugal Schools Program.

(d)  Any school board imposing the surtax shall implement a freeze on noncapital local school property taxes, at the millage rate imposed in the year prior to the implementation of the surtax, for a period of at least 3 years from the date of imposition of the surtax. This provision shall not apply to existing debt service or required state taxes.

(e)  Surtax revenues collected by the Department of Revenue pursuant to this subsection shall be distributed to the school board imposing the surtax in accordance with law.

History.--s. 2, ch. 76-284; s. 5, ch. 82-154; s. 3, ch. 83-3; s. 1, ch. 84-373; s. 1, ch. 84-555; s. 25, ch. 85-180; s. 70, ch. 85-342; s. 8, ch. 87-99; s. 1, ch. 87-100; s. 2, ch. 87-239; s. 12, ch. 87-548; s. 85, ch. 90-132; s. 4, ch. 90-203; s. 1, ch. 90-282; ss. 2, 3, ch. 91-81; s. 29, ch. 91-112; s. 2, ch. 91-418; s. 1, ch. 91-423; s. 148, ch. 92-279; ss. 1, 2, ch. 92-309; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 3, ch. 93-207; s. 3, ch. 93-222; s. 51, ch. 94-356; s. 1, ch. 95-258; s. 1, ch. 96-240; s. 1, ch. 97-83; s. 17, ch. 97-384; s. 7, ch. 98-258; s. 9, ch. 98-342; s. 4, ch. 99-4; s. 1, ch. 99-340; s. 54, ch. 99-385.

¹Note.--Section 6, ch. 89-529, as amended by s. 1, ch. 89-547, provides that "[n]otwithstanding any provision of s. 212.055(2)(c), Florida Statutes, the proceeds of the surtax levied under s. 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, may be distributed pursuant to an interlocal agreement entered into prior to December 1, 1989, between the county governing authority, the school district in the county, and the municipalities representing the majority of the county's municipal population in which agreement a portion of such proceeds are shared with the school district."