What is a stewardship community district?
It is an independent, special taxing district authorized by special act of the Florida Legislature, codified in Chapter 2004-461, Laws of Florida, as authorized by Chapter 189 of the Florida Statutes to plan, finance, construct, operate and maintain public infrastructure in planned developments.
How does the district affect residents?
The district levies an assessment against property each year that represents a pro-rata share of the cost of public infrastructure that was financed by the district. Included in the assessment is a pro-rata share of the cost to administer and maintain the district. The assessment will appear on the property tax bill sent in November of each year. If you have a mortgage on your property and your taxes are escrowed, your assessments will be included in your monthly mortgage payment. In that case, your tax bill will go directly to your mortgage company and be paid from your escrow account.
What can a special taxing district finance?
Included in the financing may be such items as roadways, storm water management systems, wetland management and mitigation, water and wastewater utilities, public parking facilities, parks and recreation, amenities, landscaping, entry features and public facilities.
How do residents benefit from special districts?
Special districts allow the costs of the improvements to be spread over the life of the bonds rather than included in the price of the initial home sale. Therefore, residents will only pay for the district improvements while they own the property.
Who governs the stewardship community district?
Chapter 2004-461, Laws of Florida, (the “Act”) provides for the five-member Board to serve as the governing body of the District. Members of the Board (“Supervisors”) must be citizens of the United States and residents of the State. Initially, the Supervisors are elected on an at-large basis by the owners of the property within the District. Ownership of land within the District entitles the owner to one vote per acre (with fractions thereof rounded upward to the nearest whole number). Terms of office are four years and until a successor is chosen and qualifies. The landowners present or voting by proxy at the annual landowners’ meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting the business of the landowners. Action taken by the District shall be upon a vote of the majority of a quorum of the Supervisors. Three Supervisors, however elected, constitute a quorum. All meetings of the Board are open to the public under Florida’s “sunshine” or open meetings law.
An election is required to be held every two years in November on a date chosen and noticed by the Board. At the subsequent elections, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will serve for four-year terms, and the remaining candidates will serve for two year terms. In accordance with the Act, the Board has called for a referendum on the question of whether certain members of the Board should be qualified electors elected by qualified electors, which question was answered in the affirmative.
As required by the Act, the District has approved maps of the District describing and locating the urban areas within the District (the “Map”). The Map is used to determine the number of Supervisors to be qualified electors elected by the qualified electors and is to be updated every five years, or sooner at the discretion of the Board. Currently, the Map adopted in December of 2021 reflects that the District is made up of more than twenty-five percent but less than fifty percent urban areas. As such, two Supervisors were elected to four-year terms by qualified electors at the last general election held on November 8, 2022. The remaining three Supervisors continue to be elected on a one-acre, one-vote principle until an updated Map reflects that the District includes a higher percentage of urban areas. When urban areas are at least fifty percent, but less than seventy percent of the District, three Supervisors will be qualified electors elected by qualified electors and the remaining two Supervisors will be elected on a one-acre, one-vote principle. When urban areas constitute at least seventy percent, but less than ninety percent of the District, four Supervisors will be qualified electors elected by qualified electors and the remaining Supervisor will be elected on a one-acre, one-vote principle. When urban areas are at least ninety percent of the District, all five Supervisors will be qualified electors elected by qualified electors.
Who manages the stewardship community district?
The board of supervisors appoints a district manager who manages the affairs of the district.
What am I paying for in my annual assessment?
The annual assessment is comprised of two components: the debt service component and the administration and maintenance component. The debt service component is the larger amount and goes towards paying of the bonds. The administration and maintenance component pays for management services and any necessary on-going maintenance.