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Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,646
9,496
Because it is incomplete?!?

Your implication that this group is anything but above board is really insulting.

I think the unwillingness to release information (complete or not) is creating it's own implication. Don't try to throw it on me.

If this is in fact all about information and community involvement I'm sure people would like to get an idea of what's involved, or would it be better for them to have no information until the last minute and then forced to make a hasty decision?
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
I think the unwillingness to release information (complete or not) is creating it's own implication. Don't try to throw it on me.

If this is in fact all about information and community involvement I'm sure people would like to get an idea of what's involved, or would it be better for them to have no information until the last minute and then forced to make a hasty decision?

What are you talking about- last minute? There is no "hasty decision" in this process. The only thing I can figure is that you don't know that the study is just the start of a long process that goes to Tallahassee and ends up back here for a vote, and because of deadlines and election cycles, it could take several years. Having the study completed and ready sometime this year is hardly hasty for something that wouldn't and couldn't come up for a vote here until at least 2017. Releasing an incorrect, incomplete study- who does that?
 

Bob Hudson

Beach Fanatic
May 10, 2008
1,066
739
Santa Rosa Beach
image.jpeg

This is another option

Note: Beauty is the County must fund everything once the required signatures are certified

The process required to develop a county charter is laid out in Florida Statutes, Chapter 125, Part II, Sections 125.60-125.64:

Any county not having a chartered form of consolidated government may, pursuant to the provisions of ss. 60–125.64, locally initiate and adopt by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the county a county home rule charter. The county commission may form a charter commission by resolution. Alternatively, if citizens submit a petition to the county commission signed by at least 15 percent of the county’s registered voters, a charter commission must be appointed. [Today Walton County has 42,558 registered voters, meaning that any petition would need to bear 6,348 signatures.] In either case, the charter commission must be formed within 30 days of the passage of the resolution or filing of said petition.


The charter commission is composed of an odd number of members, not less than 11 or more than 15. If the commission is established by resolution, members are appointed by the county commission. If the petition method is used, the legislative delegation may make the appointments. In any event, no member of the legislature or county commission may serve on the charter commission.


Within 30 days following appointments, the commission must hold an organizational meeting to elect a chair and vice chair and decide any procedural matters. All meetings are open to the public. Expenses of the commission must be paid from the general fund of the county, upon verification of a majority vote of the charter commission.


The charter commission shall conduct a comprehensive study of the operation of county government and of the ways in which the conduct of county government might be improved or reorganized. Within 18 months of its initial meeting, unless such time is extended by appropriate resolution of the board of county commissioners, the charter commission shall present to the board of county commissioners a proposed charter, upon which it shall have held three public hearings at intervals of not less than 10 nor more than 20 days. At the final hearing the charter commission shall incorporate any amendments it deems desirable, vote upon a proposed charter, and forward said charter to the board of county commissioners for the holding of a referendum election as provided in s. 64.

125.64 Adoption of charter; dissolution of commission.—

(1) Upon submission to the board of county commissioners of a charter by the charter commission, the board of county commissioners shall call a special election to be held not more than 90 nor less than 45 days subsequent to its receipt of the proposed charter, at which special election a referendum of the qualified electors within the county shall be held to determine whether the proposed charter shall be adopted. Notice of the election on the proposed charter shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county not less than 30 nor more than 45 days before the election.

(2) If a majority of those voting on the question favor the adoption of the new charter, it shall become effective January 1 of the succeeding year or at such other time as the charter shall provide. Such charter, once adopted by the electors, may be amended only by the electors of the county. The charter shall provide a method for submitting future charter revisions and amendments to the electors of the county.

(3) If a majority of the voters disapprove the proposed charter, no new referendum may be held during the next 2 years following the date of such disapproval.

(4) Upon acceptance or rejection of the proposed charter by the qualified electors, the charter commission will be dissolved, and all property of the charter commission will thereupon become the property of the county.

image.jpeg

Charters are unique

There is no “one size fits all” formula for counties in Florida. There seems to be only one commonality among the 20 county charters: a 4-year length of term for county commissioners. But charter counties vary widely, based upon the wishes of their citizens, in most other respects. Some examples:

  • How commissioners are elected. Some counties elect commissioners by district, in others commissioners serve at large, while in some there is a combination.
  • Some counties require partisan elections, others do not. In some counties the charter is silent on this point.
  • Term limits may or may not be specified.
  • Some counties elect to follow the state statute in setting salaries for commissions, others set salaries by ordinance.
  • All except two counties, which remain silent on the item, have a provision for recall of commissioners.
  • All provide for a county executive, but that person may be elected or appointed.
Constitutional Officers

Most Charter counties have changed the existing status of constitutional officers (Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Superintendent of Schools, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector), while some have opted to leave these positions largely unchanged. Some counties have chosen to convert constitutional officers to charter officers or otherwise amalgamate them into county government. Where they remain elected officials, some counties have made their elections all or in part nonpartisan.
 
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Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
Thanks Bob- I'm hoping the information in the feasibility study will point to the best option! Sadly and unless i am missing something, I don't think we can charter South Walton, and this would never make it through a county wide vote. That is the beauty of the incorporation option- we are the only ones that get to vote (as it should be).
 

FoX

Beach Fanatic
Nov 17, 2004
495
46
48
off the beach
www.thesimpsons.com
8dc1c587351499e97e4ebaf3e21ca63ba55b4fa764b8e4f9d0fe1c1d3cb0f582.jpg
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,250
9,279
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
I am not concerned about the feasibility study. The community of South Walton should take as much time as needed to study this issue, examine problems and solutions, and find the right answers to our unique town. We have many excellent, talented and energetic people who want the best outcome for shaping the future.
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,646
9,496
It is SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and if you read through many of them from the Navarre report you'll see why I have serious misgivings about incorporation.

Especially something that seems to need an awful lot of "polishing" when it's based on facts and existing figures.
 
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