City and County Government

Overview

An important component of Florida's government is what takes place at the city and county levels. Many suggest that these governments are those most significant to the citizens of Florida. (Click on the "City of Oak Hill" logo to go to the Florida League of Cities website.)

At the city and county level, individuals have a much greater ability to have their voices heard and their interests represented than in the state capital in Tallahassee. An individual's life can be much more impacted by a county commission, that will determine who one's neighbors are, rather than a state senator. (Click on the "Charlotte County" logo to go to the Florida Association of Counties website.)

City Government

From its largest, most populous city, to its sleepiest city on the Gulf coast, the majority of cities in Florida operate under the commission-manager system of management.

In this system, the elected city commissioners appoint a city manager, who acts as an employee of the commission, carrying out the day-to-day functions of running the city.

Other forms of city management used in Florida are two types of the Mayor-commission system:

• Strong Mayor-commission system—in which the mayor is directly elected by the constituents, and may have veto power over laws created by the city commission.
• Weak Mayor-commission system—the city commissioners elect one of their own to serve as mayor, for mostly ceremonial purposes.

Tallahassee, Florida's Capital City, has a strong mayor-commission system. (Click on the picture of Tallahassee's City Hall to view the City of Tallahassee Government website.)

The Florida Constitution specifies (Article VIII, section 2(b)) that municipal legislative bodies “shall be elective.”

In Florida, city legislative bodies are called councils, commissions or boards of aldermen—the choice is left up to the city. The number of commission members varies, with some cities having as many as 19 commission members, and others as few as three members. Most city commissions in Florida are made up of five members.

The city’s charter specifies the qualifications for each office as well as all appointed offices within the government structure, including the city manager.

The city manager (administrator) is appointed by the city commission (council), and serves as the city’s chief administrative officer (CEO). The role of the city manager is to carry out the established policies of the commission. The manager’s duties are outlined in detail in the city’s charter and include:

• Supervising city departments, including appointing and/or removing department directors;
• Preparing the city’s budget; and
• Making recommendations to the commission on various important issues.
  

(St. Augustine is just one of Florida's many historic cities.)

County Government

All of Florida's counties are considered “Political Subdivisions” of the state. There are currently 67 counties in Florida. The organization of each of these 67 counties is established by the Florida Constitution. It specifies that, in each county, there shall be a Board of County Commissioners—each an elected member—and five constitutional offices to function as:

1. Sheriff
2. Property Appraiser
3. Tax Collector
4. Supervisor of Elections
5. Clerk of the Circuit Court.
   

(Leon County Courthouse in Tallahassee, FL)

The board of county commissioners of each county is comprised of either five or seven members.

The Florida Constitution also specifies each county to be divided into five districts, each as equal in population as practical, and “redistricting” or redrawing the district lines takes place every ten years following the census.

For five-member boards, a member is elected from each of the five districts.

For a seven-member board, a member is elected from each of the five districts and the remaining two members are elected “at-large” or countywide.

In 1968, two very significant revisions pertaining to county government were made to the Florida Constitution:

1. Home Rule was established;
2. Counties were given the authority to establish a county charter.

In addition, the County Home Rule Powers Act of 1971, by law, granted all counties the power of self-government or “home rule.” Chapter 125 of the Florida Statutes outlines this legislative grant of power. This legislative grant of power gave counties two types of home rule:

1. Charter county home rule; and
2. Non-charter county home rule.
   

Non-charter counties retain the basic structure of county government established in the 1868 Florida Constitution.

Charter counties are structured according to the county’s charter (similar to city charters) and have broader home rule powers over local concerns. Charter counties are required to provide the same basic functions of county government as non-charter counties, however, charter counties may have more flexibility in fulfilling these obligations.

Each county board of commissioners appoints a county administrator (or manager), to carry out the policies established by the board. The county administrator’s role is similar to the city manager’s role, in that he or she is the CEO of the county. Duties of the county administrator include:

• Supervising county departments, including appointing and/or removing department directors;
• Preparing the county’s budget; and
• Making recommendations to the board on various important issues.

(St. Marks Lighthouse is just one of Florida's 29 historic lighthouses)