Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1122 (date undetermined) — 2013-2014 Strategic Plan-Rev Sources — reading text

logical relationship embodied in the special benefit requirement. Special Assessments. A special assessment may provide funding for capital expenditures or the operational costs of services provided that the property, which is subject to the assessment, derives a special benefit from the improvement or service. The courts have upheld a number of assessed services and improvements, such as: garbage disposal, sewer improvements, fire protection, fire and rescue services, street improvements, parking facilities, downtown redevelopment, water and sewer line extensions and stormwater management services. Florida Statutes Chapter 125.01(1)(q) outlines the many facilities and services that can be funded from the proceeds of special assessments imposed by county governments, via the municipal service taxing unit (MSTU) or municipal service benefit unit (MSBU). The Board of County Commissioners has assessed, by ordinance, certain special assessments related mainly to street lighting requests made by certain areas of the County. The MSBU program has been expanded to cover channel maintenance, landscape and subdivision maintenance, as well as road improvements. The Board of County Commissioners approved a revised MSBU Policy and Procedure for road maintenance in October 2007. This policy’s mission was to empower the Board of County Commissioners and property owners the use of statutory authority to acquire alternative funding for infrastructure, improvements, construction and maintenance. The Board has also considered imposition of a Stormwater Utility Assessment that could assist with funding of the County Stormwater Infrastructure needs.