Page 16 - Abacoa Community News - April '23

Page 16, Abacoa

goverNMeNt

Northern Notes

What Is A Special District? • Redevelopment • Airport, Port and Transit Authorities – Provide
Agencies – Attract businesses major infrastructure and facilities serving large areas (for
By Katie Roundtree, and retail establishments example, airports, roads and bridges, expressways, seaports,
Director of Finance and to specific areas by waterways, and utility systems).
Administration, Northern redeveloping, improving • Library and Beach Districts – Help make Florida
Palm Beach County and maintaining commercial a desirable place to live, work and visit by providing
Improvement District areas and facilities (for civic, health, educational, conservation, parks, sports, and
There has been quite a bit example, sidewalks, building recreational facilities.
of news lately surrounding facades, bicycle lanes, If you’d like more information on special districts in Florida,
special districts and what parking facilities, signs, and please go to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s
they are and are not allowed roadways). Special District Accountability Program, found at https://
to do. They are a little-known • Fire, Health Care and 19th century image of floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/special-
but widely used type of Water Control Districts – Franklin as firefighter districts/special-district-accountability-program.
government. A special district Protect life and property by (USHistory.org) NPDES tip: Please do not put any excess oils, paints or
is defined by Florida Statutes as “… a unit of local government providing fire control and solvents into lakes, canals, or storm drains! They go directly into
created for a special purpose, as opposed to a general purpose, rescue, flood control, and emergency medical services. the ground water supply.
which has jurisdiction to operate within a limited geographic
ordinance, or by rule of the Governor and Cabinet.” (Section Professional Firefighters/Paramedics
boundary and is created by general law, special act, local

189.012(6), Florida Statutes) Special districts have limited
airport, health care, etc. Special districts exist for a specific reason Of Palm Beach County
powers specifically given to them, such as water control, fire,
and can only do what is in their charter or enabling legislation.
Municipalities and counties have broad powers, such as police, Bagpipes In The Fire Service
fire, code enforcement, building inspections, parks, etc. They
are enabled to provide whatever services are needed within their If you were enjoying some of the St. Patrick’s Day
geographical boundary, except when expressly prohibited by law. festivities in Abacoa, or the parade in Delray Beach, you
Municipalities and counties can only operate within their may have noticed firefighters in kilts with bagpipes.
specific geographical area. Special districts are similar in that Celebrations featuring fire department Honor Guards
they have a particular geographical area; however, that area and Pipes and Drums bands take place across the United
can cross several municipalities or counties. Northern Palm States, and especially in the Northeast as part of St.
Beach County Improvement District overlaps eight cities Patrick’s Day festivities.
and unincorporated Palm Beach County. The South Florida This often piques the curiosity about the relationship
Water Management District is a special district that manages firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, and
water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 how it has become part of our tradition.
counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys. Every parcel of In the mid-1800s, there was a massive migration of
land in Florida is served by at least one special district. Irish to the United States, mainly to cities in the Northeast.
Did you know that special districts date back as far as This was due largely in part to the potato famine in Ireland sounds of pipes and drums. Feelings of pride and joy swell
1736? Benjamin Franklin established the first special district prompting people to search for a better life. a firefighter’s heart when listening to up-tempo Irish and
on Dec. 7, 1736, when he created the Union Fire Company Initially, the Irish were not welcomed here, and as they Scottish tunes at a joyous occasion, just as the ever-present
of Philadelphia, a volunteer fire department. Residents in a searched for jobs, they were usually greeted by signs stating, pride and overwhelming sorrow breaks the firefighter’s heart
specific neighborhood paid a fee to receive fire protection “Irish need not apply.” when hearing the wail of Amazing Grace at the funeral for
services. Any resident not paying the fee had no fire protection Becoming desperate to earn money to support their a fallen firefighter killed in the line of duty.
services. There are more than 30,000 special districts in the families, they took the jobs that no one else wanted because Next time you hear a fire department pipes and drums
United States – the majority are fire protection districts. it was a dirty, dangerous and physically demanding way band, please remember just how it came to be such a deep-
The first special district in Florida began in 1822. It was to earn very little pay and even less respect. They became rooted part of our tradition.
created to establish and maintain public roads. The first road firefighters and police officers. Steen Eriksson,
districts had no taxation authority and solved their labor One of the Irish traditions they brought with them was Community Relations-HOA North,
needs by conscription (mandated enlistment). Men failing the bagpipes. In an effort to keep their traditions alive, the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of
to report to work were fined one dollar per day. firefighters would play the bagpipes while at work, and over Palm Beach County,
In 1845, soon after Florida became a state, the legislature time it became part of the firefighter culture. IAFF Local 2928
established the first special district by special act. Five Few things evoke a firefighter’s emotions like the HOAN@iaff2928.com
commissioners were empowered to drain the “Alachua
Savannah.” The first special assessments were levied on
landowners to finance the project based on the number of
acres owned and the benefit derived.
There are about 1,900 special districts in Florida
currently. Some special districts operate in multiple
counties, such as the water management districts. Other
special districts serve small neighborhoods, helping
residents develop and maintain common areas.
Many of these are community development districts
created to issue bonds and construct infrastructure for one
specific area/housing development. Board members are
appointed by the developer initially, with residents assuming
seats as the development is sold out.
Special districts are funded through assessments that
can be either advalorem or non-advalorem. Advalorem
assessments are based on the property’s value (value times
a millage rate). Non-advalorem assessments are not based on
the property’s value; instead, assessments are determined by
computing the benefit derived for each parcel and allocating
the budgeted amount to be collected based on the derived
benefits. Property can be assessed at the same amount for
many parcels or different amounts based on varying benefits
derived (i.e., residential, commercial, or industrial).
Both special districts, municipalities, and counties have
governing bodies, such as council members or board members,
responsible for making the rules and approving the budget for the
government. Some are popularly elected on the county election
ballot, while the landowners elect others at the district offices.
Here are some of the services that special districts
provide, along with examples:
• Community Development Districts and
Improvement Districts – Allow new residential,
commercial and industrial developments to occur by
financing, building and maintaining common infrastructure
and facilities (for example, roads, landscaping, water and
sewer lines, street lighting, and drainage systems).