The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Finance and Tax
BILL: CS/CS/SB 698
INTRODUCER: Finance and Tax Committee; Community Affairs Committee; and Senator Ingoglia
SUBJECT: Local Tax Referenda Requirements
DATE: April 18, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Hackett Ryon CA Fav/CS
2. Gross Babin FT Fav/CS
3. FP
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 689 amends provisions related to several taxes that are approved by referendum. The
bill requires a referendum to reenact or increase such taxes must be placed on the ballot at a
general election occurring within the 48-month period immediately preceding the effective date
of the tax. Furthermore, such referendums may appear on the ballot only once within 48 months
of the effective date of the tax.
The bill pertains to the following taxes:
Tourist development tax:
Tourist impact tax:
Local government discretionary sales surtax:
Ninth-cent fuel tax:
1-5 cent local option fuel tax:
Children’s Services Independent District millage.
The bill will take effect July 1, 2023.
REVISED: BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Local Option Taxes
Counties and municipalities have authority to levy a variety of optional taxes conditioned upon
approval of the electorate voting in a referendum. Presently, the referendums approving the local
taxes contemplated by the bill are held at any general election.
1
Current law is silent on the
timing of referendums to reauthorize existing taxes, and permits referendums to occur at any
general election. The taxes addressed in the bill are described below.
Tourist Development Tax
The Local Option Tourist Development Act
2
authorizes counties to levy five separate taxes on
transient rental
3
transactions (“tourist development taxes” or “TDTs”). Depending on a county’s
eligibility to levy such taxes, the combined tax rate may vary but is limited to 6 percent:
The original TDT may be levied at the rate of 1 or 2 percent.
4
An additional 1 percent tax may be levied by counties that have previously levied the original
TDT for at least three years.
5
A high tourism impact tax may be levied at an additional 1 percent.
6
A professional sports franchise facility tax may be levied up to an additional 1 percent.
7
An additional professional sports franchise facility tax no greater than 1 percent may be
imposed by a county that has already levied the professional sports franchise facility tax.
8
Prior to the authorization of the original 1 or 2 percent TDT, the levy must be approved by a
countywide referendum,
9
and additional TDT levies must be authorized by a vote of the county’s
governing authority or by voter approval of a countywide referendum.
10
1
Sections 125.0104(6)(a), 125.0108(5), 125.901(1), 212.055(10), 336.021(4)(a)2., and 336.021(1)(b), F.S.
2
Section 125.0104, F.S.
3
Section 125.0104(3)(a)1., F.S. considers “transient rental” to be the rental or lease of any accommodation for a term of 6
months or less.
4
Section 125.0104(3)(c), F.S. Sixty-two counties levy the original tourist development tax, all at a rate of 2 percent. Office of
Economic & Demographic Research (EDR), Office of Economic & Demographic Research (EDR), 2022 Local Financial
Information Handbook at 247-48, available at http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/reports/lgfih22.pdf (last visited
April 15, 2023). During Fiscal Year 2022-23, the 62 counties currently levying this tax will realize an estimated $612 million
in revenue. Id. at 251
5
Section 125.0104(3)(d), F.S. Fifty-six of the eligible 59 counties levy this tax, with an estimated 2022-23 state fiscal year
collection of $250 million. Supra n. 4 at 255.
6
Section 125.0104(3)(m), F.S. Nine eligible counties levy this tax, with an estimated 2022-23 state fiscal year collection of
$162 million. Supra n. 4 at 261.
7
Section 125.0104(3)(l), F.S. Revenue can be used to pay debt service on bonds for the construction or renovation of
professional sports franchise facilities, spring training facilities or professional sports franchises, and convention centers and
to promote and advertise tourism. Forty-five of the 67 eligible counties levy this additional tax, with an estimated 2021-22
state fiscal year collection of $285 million. Supra n. 4 at 259.
8
Section 125.0104(3)(n) F.S. Thirty-one of the eligible 65 counties levy the additional professional sports franchise facility
tax, with an estimated 2021-22 state fiscal year collection of $150 million. Id at 269.
9
Section 125.0104(6), F.S.
10
Section 125.0104(3)(d), F.S. BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 3
Tourist Impact Tax; Areas of Critical State Concern
Counties containing a designated area of critical state concern
11
are authorized to create land
authorities by ordinance
12
to “equitably deal with the challenges of implementing comprehensive
land use plans developed pursuant to the area of critical state concern program, which challenges
are often complicated by the environmental sensitivity of such areas.”
13
Any county creating a land authority may levy a tourist impact tax within the area or areas
designated as an area of critical state concern.
14
However, if the area or areas of critical state
concern are greater than 50 percent of the land area of the county, the tax may be levied
throughout the entire county.
15
The tax must be levied by ordinance and takes effect after land
development regulations and a local comprehensive plan that meet the requirements of ch. 380,
F.S., take effect and the tax is approved by referendum held at a general election.
16
The county is authorized to levy a 1 percent tax on each dollar on transient rental facilities within
the applicable area.
17
The funds are used to buy property in the area of critical state concern and
to offset the loss of ad valorem (property) taxes due to those land acquisitions.
18
Designated
areas of critical state concern include the Big Cypress Area (mainly in Collier County), the
Green Swamp Area in Central Florida, the Florida Keys Area in South Florida, and the
Apalachicola Bay Area in Franklin County.
19
Property Tax; Children’s Services Independent Special District
In 1986, the Legislature authorized Florida counties to create children’s services councils as
countywide special districts to fund children’s services throughout the county.
20
The county
governing body must obtain approval, by a majority vote of those electors voting on the
question, to levy ad valorem taxes to fund children’s services. The levy may not exceed 0.5
mills.
21
Ten counties currently have children’s services councils organized as independent special
districts.
22
11
The Areas of Critical State Concern Program, which was created by the Florida Environmental Land and Water
Management Act of 1972, is intended to “protect resources and public facilities of major statewide significance, within
designated geographic areas, from uncontrolled development that would cause substantial deterioration of such resources.”
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Areas of Critical State Concern Program, April 15, 2023).
12
Section 380.0663(1), F.S.
13
Section 380.0661(1), F.S.
14
Section 125.0108, F.S.
15
Id.
16
Id.
17
Section 125.0108(1)(d), F.S.
18
Supra n. 4 at 267-68.
19
Id.
20
Chapter 86-197, Laws of Fla.; s. 125.901(1), F.S.
21
Section 125.901(3)(b), F.S.
22
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Division of Community Development, Official List of Special Districts
Online, available at https://www.floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/special-districts/special-district-
accountability-program/official-list-of-special-districts, Special Purpose Totals and Statutory Authority (PDF) (last visited
April 14, 2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 4
Children’s services councils may exercise the following powers and functions:
Provide preventive, developmental, treatment, rehabilitative, and other services for children;
Provide funds to other agencies that operate for the benefit of children, with the exception of
the public school system;
Collect data and conduct research to determine the needs of the children in the county;
Coordinate with providers of children’s services to prevent duplication of services;
Lease or buy necessary real estate, equipment, and personal property; and
Employ and provide benefits for needed personnel.
23
Discretionary Sales Surtax
Counties are authorized to levy a discretionary sales surtax on transactions subject to state sales
tax for specific purposes.
24
These purposes include:
Operating a regional transportation system;
Financing local government infrastructure projects;
Providing additional revenue for small counties;
Providing medical care for indigent persons;
Funding trauma centers;
Operating, maintaining, and administering a county public general hospital;
Constructing and renovating schools;
Providing emergency fire rescue services and facilities; and
Funding pension liability shortfalls.
25
A referendum to adopt or amend a discretionary sales surtax must be held at a general election.
26
Current law does not specify when a referendum to reenact an existing sales surtax must occur.
Local Option Fuel Taxes
Counties may levy a ninth-cent fuel tax (1 cent on every net gallon of motor sold within a
county) if approved by extraordinary vote of its governing board or by voter referendum.
27
Beginning January 1, 1994, and as required by law, each county had levied within its jurisdiction
the ninth-cent fuel tax on diesel fuel.
28
Counties also may levy local option fuel taxes which include a tax of 1 to 6 cents on every net
gallon of motor and diesel fuel sold within a county, and a tax of 1 to 5 cents on every net gallon
of motor fuel (excluding diesel) sold within a county.
29
The latter tax on motor fuel may be
levied by an ordinance adopted by a majority plus one vote of the membership of the governing
body of the county or by referendum.
30
Beginning September 1, 1992, and as required by law,
23
Section 125.901(2), F.S.
24
Section 212.054, F.S.
25
Section 212.055(1)-(9), F.S.
26
Section 212.055(10), F.S.
27
Section 336.021(1)(a), F.S.
28
Chapter 90-351, L.O.F.
29
Section 336.025, F.S.
30
Section 336.025(1)(b), F.S. BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 5
each county had levied within its jurisdiction the maximum 6 cents local option tax on diesel
fuel.
31
All impositions of the ninth-cent fuel tax or the local option fuel tax must be levied before
October 1 of each year to be effective January 1 of the following year.
32
The Department of
Revenue administers, collects, enforces, and distributes local option fuel taxes. The funds are
used for transportation expenditures.
33
General Elections
A general election is an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in
the even-numbered years, for the purpose of filling national, state, county, and district offices
and for voting on constitutional amendments not otherwise provided for by law.
34
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The following taxes are amended by the bill to require their reenactment occur at a general
election within the 48-month period immediately preceding the effective date of the tax. The
referendum to reenact may appear only once within a 48-month period immediately preceding
the effective date of the tax:
Tourist development tax (section 1, amending s. 125.0104, F.S.);
Tourist impact tax (section 2, amending s. 125.0108, F.S.); and
Local government discretionary sales surtax (section 4, amending s. 212.055, F.S.)
The following taxes are amended by the bill to explicitly require a referendum to adopt, amend,
or to reenact the tax occur at a general election. The referendum may be held only once within a
48-month period immediately preceding the effective date of the referendum:
Ninth-cent fuel tax (section 5, amending s. 336.021, F.S.); and
1-5 cent local option fuel tax (section 6, amending s. 336.025, F.S.).
A referendum to increase the electorate approved millage levied by a children’s services
independent special district (section 3, amending s. 125.901, F.S.) must be held at a general
election, and the referendum may be held only once within a 48-month period immediately
preceding the effective date of the increased millage.
The bill will take effect July 1, 2023.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Not applicable. The bill does not require counties or municipalities to take action
requiring the expenditure of funds, reduce the authority that counties or municipalities
31
Chapter 90-351, L.O.F.
32
Section 336.025(1)(a)-(b), F.S.
33
Supra, n. 4 at 217-18.
34
Section 97.021(17), F.S. BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 6
have to raise revenue in the aggregate, nor reduce the percentage of state tax shared with
counties or municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
Not applicable. The bill does not create or increase a state tax or fee or repeal an
exemption of credit. Thus, Art. VII, s. 19 of the Florida Constitution does not apply.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) has not analyzed the bill. However, the REC
did determine that proposed language similar to that under the bill would not result in a
change in local government revenue.
35
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
The bill ties limits on elections to the effective date of referendums. Referendums are held to
approve ordinances, which have effective dates, but it is not clear whether a referendum itself
has an effective date.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
35
Revenue Estimating Conference, Local tax Referenda, Proposed Language, (April 7, 2023), available at
http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/conferences/revenueimpact/archives/2023/_pdf/page387-390.pdf (last visited April 15, 2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 698 Page 7
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 125.0104, 125.0108,
125.901, 212.055, 336.021, and 336.025.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Finance and Tax on April 17, 2023:
The CS requires that a referendum to renew or increase a tax must be placed on a general
election ballot occurring within 48 months of the effective date of the renewed or
increased tax, and it may only be on the ballot one time in that 48-month period.
The CS removes:
1. Sections 200.091, F.S., 200.101, F.S., and 1011.73, F.S.
CS by Community Affairs on March 29, 2023:
The CS provides, for each tax the bill applies to, that a referendum to extend or increase
millage must be held only once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date
of the referendum, as opposed to being held at the general election immediately
preceding such effective date.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.