HB 1643 2023
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Mid -Bay Bridge Authority, 2
Okaloosa County; amending chapter 2000 -411, Laws of 3
Florida; providing that the authority is an 4
independent special district; revising provisions 5
relating to the budget; deleting a requirement that 6
the authority's fiscal year be the same as the county 7
fiscal year; providing an effective date. 8
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Flor ida: 10
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Section 1. Sections 1 and 6 of section 3 of chapter 2000 -12
411, Laws of Florida, are amended to read: 13
Section 1. Purpose. —There is hereby created in Okaloosa 14
County an independent a dependent special district for the 15
purpose of planning, constr ucting, operating, and maintaining a 16
bridge transversing Choctawhatchee Bay. The governmental body 17
shall be known as the Mid -Bay Bridge Authority, hereinafter 18
referred to as "authority." 19
Section 6. Budget.— 20
(1)(a) Prior to preparation of the annual budget as 21
provided in paragraph (b), the authority shall develop an annual 22
proposed budget according to the provisions set forth in this 23
section by May of each year, for a public hearing before the 24
citizens of Okaloosa County. 25
HB 1643 2023
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(b) The authority, in each fiscal year, shall prepare an 26
annual budget for operating revenue accounts and operating 27
expense accounts and such other accounts as it the board of 28
county commissioners shall prescribe, for its operations in the 29
ensuing fiscal year and, on or before the first day of June of 30
each year, the chair of the authority shall submit such budget 31
to the board of county commissioners. The fiscal year for the 32
authority shall be concurrent with the fiscal year of Okaloosa 33
County. At the time the authority prepares its a nnual budget, it 34
shall adopt a resolution determining and finding the estimated 35
amounts to be expended by the authority in the ensuing year, 36
exclusive of any bonds or other obligations of the authority, 37
for acquiring, establishing, constructing, enlarging, operating, 38
and maintaining the system, including the bridge and bridge 39
facilities and other facilities related thereto, or for any 40
other corporate purpose of the authority. A certified copy of 41
the resolution shall be submitted to the board of county 42
commissioners at the same time that it submits its annual budget 43
referred to above. 44
(c) The board of county commissioners shall examine the 45
budget and the certified copy of the resolution, and may 46
increase or reduce the total amount requested under the 47
provisions in the budget and resolution for the expenditures in 48
such an amount as the board of county commissioners deems 49
advisable in its sole discretion. Thereafter, the board of 50
HB 1643 2023
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
county commissioners shall approve the budget of the authority, 51
either as submitted or as increased or reduced, as aforesaid. 52
(d) Any budget amendment adopted by the authority that 53
increases the total budget shall be approved by the board of 54
county commissioners prior to becoming effective. 55
(e) All anticipated revenues to be derive d from the 56
operation of the system, including the bridge and bridge 57
facilities shall be included in the budget of the authority. 58
However, any amounts of money, including funds in the 59
authority's budget for the preceding fiscal year, that remain 60
unexpended from the revenue derived under the budget for the 61
preceding fiscal year may, by resolution duly adopted by the 62
authority and approved by the board of county commissioners, be 63
set aside in a separate fund, to be known and described as a 64
"Renewal and Replace ment Fund," and accumulated in said fund 65
from year to year for the purpose of purchasing real and 66
personal property, and building and constructing permanent 67
improvements, replacements, alterations, buildings, and other 68
structures, and such funds may be dis bursed from time to time 69
out of the renewal and replacement fund, upon proper resolution 70
of the authority and approval by the board of county 71
commissioners, and solely for the payment of the cost of 72
purchasing real and tangible personal property, and build ing and 73
constructing permanent improvements, replacements, alterations, 74
buildings, and other structures. 75
HB 1643 2023
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(f) The authority shall adopt budget procedures to 76
establish the direct and indirect costs of operating and 77
maintaining the bridge authority and the system, as well as the 78
direct income derived therefrom. 79
Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 80