Town Government
How many people will sit on the town council, and how would they be elected?
The town council will be composed of five people who are all elected at large in nonpartisan elections. Every registered voter on the island will be entitled to vote on all five seats, and all town council members will represent the interests of the entire island. The town council members will serve staggered four-year terms. As required by Florida law, only registered voters of the island are eligible to run for the town council.
What will the town council be paid?
The town council would be paid an annual stipend of $5,000 for their service, with no other benefits.
What are the jobs of the mayor and vice mayor?
The mayor acts as the chairperson of the town council meetings and performs administrative tasks like signing ordinances. Otherwise, the mayor is one of the five equal voting members of the town council and does not have any special voting, veto, or supervisory rights. The only job of the vice mayor is to handle the mayor’s duties if the mayor is absent. The mayor and vice mayor are not paid for their administrative services; they will receive the same $5,000 annual stipend as all the other town council members.
How can we maintain the integrity of the town council?
It is up to the voters of SGI to elect people with integrity to the town council. The council members must live on the island and will be your friends and neighbors. They will be accountable for their decisions within the community and will have to live with the outcomes of their policy choices (good or bad) on a daily basis. Our town council members will have every incentive to make decisions based on the long-term best interests of the island. All elected and appointed officials of the Town will also be subject to the ethics laws of the State of Florida which are among the most stringent in the nation.
What is the role of the Town Manager and how much will that person be paid?
The town manager will be the head of the town government, with responsibility for overseeing all day-to-day operations, hiring and supervising all employees, establishing long-term capital plans, and implementing the strategic directions of the town council. The town manager will also be responsible for ensuring the town meets legal requirements like Sunshine Laws as well as all financial reporting requirements. A qualified town manager will have significant experience in local government management, preferably in a coastal setting. Based on salary data provided by the League of Cities and the Florida City and County Management Association, the sample budget projects an annual salary of $90,000 for the town manager. The proposed town charter does not require the town manager to live within the city limits.
Would the town be required to build a town hall?
No. The town council will decide whether it makes the most sense to lease space or construct a public facility.
How many employees will the town have?
It will be up to the town council to determine which functions should be handled by full time employees and what functions will be outsourced, so the number of employees could vary. In similar cities in Florida, full time employees typically include the town manager, town clerk, building department personnel, administrative assistants, and supervisors of the road and parks departments. Seasonal personnel often include parking attendants and beach patrols.
Would the County be able to override municipal ordinances?
No. The Florida Constitution says, in Article 8, section 1, that in non-charter counties like Franklin County, a county “ordinance in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.” In other words, municipal home rule means town ordinances prevail inside city limits in the event of any conflict with county ordinances.
Will the Town be required to set up its own police department?
No. The town council can choose the best manner to provide law enforcement services, but it makes little sense to create a completely new law enforcement service for a small town when we already have a well-regarded Sheriff’s Office serving the area. The incorporation proposal contemplates that the town will contract with the FCSO for law enforcement services, although the town will handle its own parking enforcement using non-badged parking attendants.
Proposed Budget
How did you come up with the sample budget?
The volunteers who worked on this project researched and analyzed the budgets of other small, coastal, tourism-oriented communities in Florida to find out what those towns spend on services and infrastructure. A few of the comparable cities we studied are Carrabelle, Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, Cedar Key (population 714), Sanibel (pop. 6,756), Juno Beach (pop. 3,442), Melbourne Beach (pop. 3,111), and Marathon (pop. 8,593). The volunteers also looked at the budgets of cities that incorporated in Florida within the last five years to understand the start-up expenses associated with a new municipality.
What is the proposed town tax rate?
The proposed budget calls for a town tax of 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of value). The proposal uses this benchmark because Section 281.23(1) of the Florida Statutes requires that municipalities collect local taxes in the amount of 3 mills in order to participate in revenue sharing from the state. It is ultimately up to the town council to set the budget and the tax millage rate. To find out what tax would apply to your property, visit the Franklin County Property Appraiser’s website (https://franklincountypa.net/) to confirm the taxable value of your property.
Will the tax rate increase?
The town council ultimately sets the tax rate based on the budget – how many people they choose to hire, how many infrastructure projects they choose to tackle at one time, etc. The town council could decide to do more or less than what is reflected in the sample budget, so actual taxes could be higher or lower than 3 mills. Florida law generally caps municipal tax rates at 10 mills. We voters of SGI will be responsible for electing town council members who are most in line with our community’s financial and other goals.
What sources of revenue will the town have, other than ad valorem taxes?
Ad valorem taxes (taxes based on property value) will be the main source of revenue for the town. The town will also impose non-ad valorem tax (a flat tax) to fund the Volunteer Fire Department in the same manner and at the same flat tax rate that is currently charged by the county. The town will be entitled to receive all permit fees for construction work performed in the town. The town council will have the option to adopt an occupational license schedule to collect annual registration fees from businesses in the town. The town will be eligible to receive revenue sharing funds from the state. Finally, the town will have the ability to apply for grants that would be relevant to the town’s activities, including for things like beach renourishment, coastal resiliency, rural economic development, and environmental protection.
If the Town of SGI incorporates, would island property owners pay less in county taxes?
No. All properties in Franklin County are assessed the same millage rates by the County and by the School Board, regardless of whether the property is located within city limits or in an unincorporated area of the county.
Will property owners pay more for fire protection after the Town incorporates?
No. The County assesses a flat rate for fire protection on all property on SGI as part of the Municipal Services Benefit Unit for the island. The rates are currently $10 per year for vacant land, $95 per year for residential property, and $100 per year for commercial property. Following incorporation of the Town, the MBSU will terminate and the same flat annual amount will be charged by the Town for fire protection. The sample budget also includes additional funds for training and equipment for public safety from the 3 mills of ad valorem property taxes, so the volunteer fire department will have more resources available following incorporation.
What improvements in infrastructure could the Town make?
The sample budget for the Town provides for over $1 million in annual investments in infrastructure and amenities in the town. The town council will decide on spending priorities, but in the community’s visioning sessions it was clear that road repairs, drainage improvements, and sidewalks are common concerns for our community members. These types of improvements will enhance the daily experiences of both our residents and visitors, helping to support our important tourism industry. By making these investments in infrastructure ourselves, the Town would reduce the financial burden on Franklin County while also boosting the industry that is critical to our entire county.
Other
Could we accomplish our community goals using a special district?
Independent and dependent special districts are limited purpose types of local government, typically formed for purposes of providing certain types of infrastructure (such as water and sewer or roadways). They can collect taxes to fund that infrastructure. Because special districts are limited in purpose, they can only focus on the specific tasks identified in their charters. Most important, special districts cannot control zoning. As a result, they cannot provide a comprehensive approach to community development. A special district for the island could help raise funds for specific, identified improvements like drainage, but a special district could not ensure that we continue to have low density and height limitations across the island.
How would HOAs be affected by the incorporation of the town?
Like all other properties within the town, owners and residents within HOAs would be entitled to receive the services provided by the town, such as enhanced law enforcement patrols. Property owners in HOAs would continue to pay their assessments to their associations for the unique, private amenities of their communities like docks, pools, clubhouses, and private roads.
How can non-resident owners be involved in the new town?
Currently all island property owners, including nonresident owners, are represented by the same county commissioner. Following incorporation, all owners would be represented by 5 city commissioners who live on the island instead of only by the one county commissioner that does not (one out of 5). While non-resident owners cannot be elected to the town council, there should be opportunities for all homeowners to participate in advisory groups to help with projects on the island.