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About the Official List of Special Districts Online

Purposes

More than 685 state and local government agencies (see list below) must have specific information about special districts so they can coordinate activities, compile financial and other information, and monitor special districts and their governing boards for compliance purposes. In addition, citizens and the private sector often need to find out information about special districts. To help state and government operate more efficiently, and to help make government more transparent, the Special District Information Program continuously gathers, disseminates, and updates information about special districts, then makes it available through the Official List of Special Districts Online. Users can create customized reports to find the specific information they need about Florida's special districts.

• The President of the Senate
• The Speaker of the House of Representatives
• The Auditor General
• The Department of Revenue
• The Department of Financial Services
• The Department of Management Services
• The State Board of Administration, Division of Bond Finance
• All Counties
• All Municipalities
• All County Property Appraisers
• All Tax Collectors
• All Supervisors of Elections

Data Accuracy

The Official List of Special Districts Online is maintained and updated as follows:

• Chapter 189, Florida Statutes, requires special districts to report certain activities (such as creation, dissolution, merger, charter amendments, and registered agent/address changes) to the Special District Information Program within 30 days so the database can be updated.
• State agencies compare entities reporting to them with those listed in the database and notifies the Special District Information Program of any discrepancies for reconciliation.
• Each October, during invoicing of the annual special district fee, every special district must verify the accuracy of the information in the Official List of Special Districts database and advise the program of needed updates and/or corrections.

Data Categories

• Special District Name - the legal name of the special district as referenced in the district's creation document, as amended
• Registered Agent's Name - the person that the special district designates to be an agent of the district upon whom any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the district may be served
• Registered Office Address - the mailing address where the special district receives its mail
• Telephone - the registered agent's telephone number
• Fax - the registered agent's fax number
• Email - the registered agent's email address
• Website - the special district's official website
• Status - the dependent or independent status of the special district pursuant to Section 189.403, Florida Statutes - Definitions
• County(ies) - the county in which the special district has territory
• Local Governing Authority - the name of the local general-purpose government(s) (municipality or county) in which the special district is located
• Functions - the role of the special district
• Date Established - the date that the special district was legally created
• Creation Documents - the local ordinance, rule of the Governor and Cabinet, special act, court decree or interlocal agreement that created the special district
• Statutory Authority - the Florida Statute(s) governing the operation of the special district
• Board Selection - the way a special district's board is selected as follows:
  • Governor Appoints: The Governor appointed the board
  • Local Governing Authority Appoints: The local governing authority (local general-purpose government) appointed the board
  • Same as Local Governing Authority: The board is the same as the local governing authority's board
  • Similar to Local Governing Authority: The board may include some but not all members of the local governing authority's board
  • Appointed: The board is appointed by one more entities other than a single local governing authority or the Governor
  • Elected: The board is elected by the electors in the special district
  • Apointed/Elected: The board has both appointed and elected members
  • Other: None of the above
• Authority to Issue Bonds: "Yes" or "No"
• Revenue Source - the special district's actual revenue source(s)
• Most Recent Update - the most recent date in which the special district provided an annual update form or other update to the Special District Information Program
• Creation Method - the general method in which the district was created (local ordinance, Rule of the Governor and Cabinet, Special Act of the Legislature, or General Law (such as through an interlocal agreement)

Common Acronyms and Abbreviations

The following acronyms and abbreviations appear in the Official List of Special Districts Online:

• CDD - Community Development District
• CRA - Community Redevelopment Agency
• Dep - Dependent
• FAC - Florida Administrative Code
• FS - Florida Statutes
• Ind - Independent
• LOF - Laws of Florida
• Multi - Multiple
• NID - Neighborhood Improvement District