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1
An act relating to Osceola County; creating the
Sunbridge Stewardship District; providing a short
title; providing legislative findings and intent;
providing definitions; stating legislative policy
regarding creation of the district; establishing
compliance with minimum requirements in s. 189.031(3),
F.S., for creation of an independent special district;
providing for creation and establishment of the
district; establishing the legal boundaries of the
district; providing for the jurisdiction and charter
of the district; providing for a governing board and
establishing membership criteria and election
procedures; providing for board members' terms of
office; providing for board meetings; providing for
administrative duties of the board; providing a method
for transition of the board from landowner control to
control by the resident electors of the district;
providing for a district manager and district
personnel; providing for a district treasurer,
selection of a public depository, and district budgets
and financial reports; providing for the general
powers of the district; providing for the special
powers of the district to plan, finance, and provide
community infrastructure and services within the

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district; providing for bonds; providing for
borrowing; providing for future ad valorem taxation;
providing for special assessments; providing for
issuance of certificates of indebtedness; providing
for tax liens; providing for competitive procurement;
providing for fees and charges; providing for
amendment to charter; providing for required notices
to purchasers of residential units within the
district; defining district public property; providing
for construction; providing severability; providing
for a referendum; providing an effective date. 37
38	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 39
Section 1.	This act may be cited as the "Sunbridge
Stewardship District Act."
Section 2.	Legislative findings and intent; definitions;
policy.—
(1)	LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE DISTRICT.—
(a)	The extensive lands located wholly within Osceola
County and covered by this act contain many opportunities for
thoughtful, comprehensive, responsible, and consistent
development over a long period.
(b)	There is a need to use a special and limited purpose
independent special district unit of local government for the

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Sunbridge Stewardship District lands located within Osceola
County and covered by this act to provide for a more
comprehensive communities development approach, which will
facilitate an integral relationship between transportation, land
use and urban design to provide for a diverse mix of housing and
regional employment and economic development opportunities,
rather than fragmented development with underutilized
infrastructure generally associated with urban sprawl.
(c)	The establishment of a special and limited purpose
independent special district for the Sunbridge Stewardship
District lands will allow for the responsible management of an
area containing three watersheds and the intersection of the two
largest water management districts in the state. The headwaters
of the Econlockhatchee, St. Johns, and Kissimmee Rivers converge
on the Sunbridge Stewardship District lands. The establishment
of the district will further contribute to the ability to tailor
water resource solutions to the needs of each watershed and
basin to ensure the protection of the natural systems and
achieve conservation goals while facilitating the highest and
best use for the real property within the Sunbridge Stewardship
District.
(d)	There is a considerably long period of time during
which there is a significant burden to provide various systems,
facilities, and services on the initial landowners of these
Sunbridge Stewardship District lands, such that there is a need

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for flexible management, sequencing, timing, and financing of
the various systems, facilities, and services to be provided to
these lands, taking into consideration absorption rates,
commercial viability, and related factors.
(e)	While chapter 190, Florida Statutes, provides an
opportunity for community development services and facilities to
be provided by the establishment of community development
districts in a manner that furthers the public interest, given
the size of the Sunbridge Stewardship District lands and the
duration of development and that the Sunbridge Stewardship
District lands are located within the headwaters of three major
river systems, establishing multiple community development
districts over these lands would result in an inefficient,
duplicative, and needless proliferation of local special purpose
government, contrary to the public interest and the
Legislature's findings in chapter 190, Florida Statutes.
Instead, it is in the public interest that the long-range
provision for, and management, financing, and long-term
maintenance, upkeep, and operation of, services and facilities
to be provided for ultimate development and conservation of the
lands covered by this act be under one coordinated entity. The
creation of a single district will assist in integrating the
management of state resources and allow for greater and more
coordinated stewardship of water, waste, energy, habitat and
natural system resources.

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(f)	Longer involvement of the initial landowner with
regard to the provision of systems, facilities, and services for
the Sunbridge Stewardship District lands, coupled with the
special and limited purpose of the district, is in the public
interest.
(g)	The existence and use of such a special and limited
purpose local government for the Sunbridge Stewardship District
lands, subject to the Osceola County comprehensive plan, will
provide for a comprehensive and complete communities development
approach to promote a sustainable and efficient land use pattern
for the Sunbridge Stewardship District lands with long-term
planning for conservation, development, and agriculture and
silviculture on a large scale; provide opportunities for the
mitigation of impacts and development of infrastructure in an
orderly and timely manner; prevent the overburdening of the
local general purpose government and the taxpayers; and provide
an enhanced tax base and regional employment and economic
development opportunities.
(h)	The creation and establishment of the special district
will encourage local government financial self-sufficiency in
providing public facilities and in identifying and implementing
physically sound, innovative, and cost-effective techniques to
provide and finance public facilities while encouraging
development, use, and coordination of capital improvement plans

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by all levels of government, in accordance with the goals of
chapter 187, Florida Statutes.
(i)	The creation and establishment of the special district
will encourage and enhance cooperation among communities that
have unique assets, irrespective of political boundaries, to
bring the private and public sectors together for establishing
an orderly and economically sound plan for current and future
needs and growth.
(j)	The creation and establishment of the special district
is a legitimate supplemental and alternative method available to
manage, own, operate, construct, and finance capital
infrastructure systems, facilities, and services.
(k)	In order to be responsive to the critical timing
required through the exercise of its special management
functions, an independent special district requires financing of
those functions, including bondable lienable and nonlienable
revenue, with full and continuing public disclosure and
accountability, funded by landowners, both present and future,
and funded also by users of the systems, facilities, and
services provided to the land area by the special district,
without unduly burdening the taxpayers, citizens, and ratepayers
of the state, Osceola County, any municipality therein, or the
Tohopekaliga Water Authority.
(l)	The special district created and established by this
act shall not have or exercise any comprehensive planning,

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zoning, or development permitting power; the establishment of
the special district shall not be considered a development order
within the meaning of chapter 380, Florida Statutes; and all
applicable planning and permitting laws, rules, regulations, and
policies of Osceola County control the development of the land
to be serviced by the special district.
(m)	The creation by this act of the Sunbridge Stewardship
District is not inconsistent with the Osceola County
comprehensive plan.
(n)	It is the legislative intent and purpose that no debt
or obligation of the special district constitute a burden on any
local general-purpose government or the Tohopekaliga Water
Authority without its consent.
(2)	DEFINITIONS.—As used in this act:
(a)	"Ad valorem bonds" means bonds that are payable from
the proceeds of ad valorem taxes levied on real and tangible
personal property and that are generally referred to as general
obligation bonds.
(b)	"Assessable improvements" means, without limitation,
any and all public improvements and community facilities that
the district is empowered to provide in accordance with this act
that provide a special benefit to property within the district.
(c)	"Assessment bonds" means special obligations of the
district which are payable solely from proceeds of the special
assessments or benefit special assessments levied for assessable

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improvements, provided that, in lieu of issuing assessment bonds
to fund the costs of assessable improvements, the district may
issue revenue bonds for such purposes payable from assessments.
(d)	"Assessments" means those nonmillage district
assessments which include special assessments, benefit special
assessments, and maintenance special assessments and a
nonmillage, non-ad valorem maintenance tax if authorized by
general law.
(e)	"Sunbridge Stewardship District" means the unit of
special and limited purpose local government created and
chartered by this act, and limited to the performance of those
general and special powers authorized by its charter under this
act, the boundaries of which are set forth by the act, the
governing board of which is created and authorized to operate
with legal existence by this act, and the purpose of which is as
set forth in this act.
(f)	"Benefit special assessments" are district assessments
imposed, levied, and collected pursuant to the provisions of
section 6(12)(b).
(g)	"Board of supervisors" or "board" means the governing
body of the district or, if such board has been abolished, the
board, body, or commission assuming the principal functions
thereof or to whom the powers given to the board by this act
have been given by law.

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(h)	"Bond" includes "certificate," and the provisions that
are applicable to bonds are equally applicable to certificates.
The term also includes any general obligation bond, assessment
bond, refunding bond, revenue bond, bond anticipation note, and
other such obligation in the nature of a bond as is provided for
in this act.
(i)	"Cost" or "costs," when used with reference to any
project, includes, but is not limited to:
1.	The expenses of determining the feasibility or
practicability of acquisition, construction, or reconstruction.
2.	The cost of surveys, estimates, plans, and
specifications.
3.	The cost of improvements.
4.	Engineering, architectural, fiscal, and legal expenses
and charges.
5.	The cost of all labor, materials, machinery, and
equipment.
6.	The cost of all lands, properties, rights, easements,
and franchises acquired.
7.	Financing charges.
8.	The creation of initial reserve and debt service funds.
9.	Working capital.
10.	Interest charges incurred or estimated to be incurred
on money borrowed prior to and during construction and
acquisition and for such reasonable period of time after

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completion of construction or acquisition as the board may
determine.
11.	The cost of issuance of bonds pursuant to this act,
including advertisements and printing.
12.	The cost of any bond or tax referendum held pursuant
to this act and all other expenses of issuance of bonds.
13.	The discount, if any, on the sale or exchange of
bonds.
14.	Administrative expenses.
15.	Such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental
to the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of any
project, or to the financing thereof, or to the development of
any lands within the district.
16.	Payments, contributions, dedications, and any other
exactions required as a condition of receiving any governmental
approval or permit necessary to accomplish any district purpose.
17.	Any other expense or payment permitted by this act or
allowable by law.
(j)	"District" means the Sunbridge Stewardship District.
(k)	"District manager" means the manager of the district.
(l)	"District roads" means highways, streets, roads,
alleys, intersection improvements, sidewalks, crossings,
landscaping, irrigation, signage, signalization, storm drains,
bridges, multi-use trails, lighting, and thoroughfares of all
kinds.

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(m)	"General obligation bonds" means bonds which are
secured by, or provide for their payment by, the pledge of the
full faith and credit and taxing power of the district.
(n)	"Governing board member" means any member of the board
of supervisors.
(o)	"Land development regulations" means those regulations
of general purpose local government, adopted under the Florida
Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development
Regulation Act, codified as part II of chapter 163, Florida
Statutes, to which the district is subject and as to which the
district may not do anything that is inconsistent therewith.
Land development regulations shall not mean specific management,
engineering, operations, or capital improvement planning, needed
in the daily management, implementation, and supplying by the
district of systems, facilities, services, works, improvements,
projects, or infrastructure, so long as they remain subject to
and are not inconsistent with the applicable county codes.
(p)	"Landowner" means the owner of a freehold estate as it
appears on the deed record, including a trustee, a private
corporation, and an owner of a condominium unit. "Landowner"
does not include a reversioner, remainderman, mortgagee, or any
governmental entity which shall not be counted and need not be
notified of proceedings under this act. "Landowner" also means
the owner of a ground lease from a governmental entity, which

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leasehold interest has a remaining term, excluding all renewal
options, in excess of 50 years.
(q)	"General-purpose local government" means a county,
municipality, or consolidated city-county government.
(r)	"Maintenance special assessments" are assessments
imposed, levied, and collected pursuant to the provisions of
section 6(12)(d).
(s)	"Non-ad valorem assessment" means only those
assessments which are not based upon millage and which can
become a lien against a homestead as permitted in s. 4, Art. X
of the State Constitution.
(t)	"Powers" means powers used and exercised by the board
of supervisors to accomplish the special and limited purpose of
the district, including:
1.	"General powers," which means those organizational and
administrative powers of the district as provided in its charter
in order to carry out its special and limited purpose as a local
government public corporate body politic.
2.	"Special powers," which means those powers enumerated
by the district charter to implement its specialized systems,
facilities, services, projects, improvements, and infrastructure
and related functions in order to carry out its special and
limited purposes.
3.	Any other powers, authority, or functions set forth in
this act.

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(u)	"Project" means any development, improvement,
property, power, utility, facility, enterprise, service, system,
works, or infrastructure now existing or hereafter undertaken or
established under the provisions of this act.
(v)	"Qualified elector" means any person at least 18 years
of age who is a citizen of the United States and a legal
resident of the state and of the district and who registers to
vote with the Supervisor of Elections in Osceola County and
resides in Osceola County.
(w)	"Reclaimed water" means water that has received at
least secondary treatment and basic disinfection and is reused
after flowing out of a domestic wastewater treatment facility.
(x) "Reclaimed water system" means any plant, system,
facility, or property, and any addition, extension, or
improvement thereto at any future time constructed or acquired
as part thereof, useful, necessary, or having the present
capacity for future use in connection with the development of
sources, treatment, purification, or distribution of reclaimed
water. The term includes franchises of any nature relating to
any such system and necessary or convenient for the operation
thereof.
(y)	"Refunding bonds" means bonds issued to refinance
outstanding bonds of any type and the interest and redemption
premium thereon. Refunding bonds may be issuable and payable in
the same manner as refinanced bonds, except that no approval by

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the electorate shall be required unless required by the State
Constitution.
(z)	"Revenue bonds" means obligations of the district that
are payable from revenues, including, but not limited to,
special assessments and benefit special assessments, derived
from sources other than ad valorem taxes on real or tangible
personal property and that do not pledge the property, credit,
or general tax revenue of the district.
(aa)	"Sewer system" means any plant, system, facility, or
property, and additions, extensions, and improvements thereto at
any future time constructed or acquired as part thereof, useful
or necessary or having the present capacity for future use in
connection with the collection, treatment, purification, or
disposal of sewage, including, but not limited to, industrial
wastes resulting from any process of industry, manufacture,
trade, or business or from the development of any natural
resource. The term also includes treatment plants, pumping
stations, lift stations, valves, force mains, intercepting
sewers, laterals, pressure lines, mains, and all necessary
appurtenances and equipment; all sewer mains, laterals, and
other devices for the reception and collection of sewage from
premises connected therewith; and all real and personal property
and any interest therein, and rights, easements, and franchises
of any nature relating to any such system and necessary or
convenient for operation thereof.

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(bb)	"Special assessments" means assessments as imposed,
levied, and collected by the district for the costs of
assessable improvements pursuant to the provisions of this act,
chapter 170, Florida Statutes, and the additional authority
under s. 197.3631, Florida Statutes, or other provisions of
general law, now or hereinafter enacted, which provide or
authorize a supplemental means to impose, levy, or collect
special assessments.
(cc)	"Taxes" or "tax" means those levies and impositions
of the board of supervisors that support and pay for government
and the administration of law and that may be:
1.	Ad valorem or property taxes based upon both the
appraised value of property and millage, at a rate uniform
within the jurisdiction; or
2.	If and when authorized by general law, non-ad valorem
maintenance taxes not based on millage that are used to maintain
district systems, facilities, and services.
(dd)	"Water system" means any plant, system, facility, or
property, and any addition, extension, or improvement thereto at
any future time constructed or acquired as a part thereof,
useful, necessary, or having the present capacity for future use
in connection with the development of sources, treatment,
purification, or distribution of water. The term also includes
dams, reservoirs, storage tanks, mains, lines, valves, pumping
stations, laterals, and pipes for the purpose of carrying water

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to the premises connected with such system, and all rights,
easements, and franchises of any nature relating to any such
system and necessary or convenient for the operation thereof.
(3)	POLICY.—Based upon its findings, ascertainments,
determinations, intent, purpose, and definitions, the
Legislature states its policy expressly:
(a)	The district and the district charter, with its
general and special powers, as created in this act, are
essential and the best alternative for the residential,
commercial, office, hotel, industrial, and other community uses,
projects, or functions in the included portion of Osceola County
consistent with the effective comprehensive plan, and designed
to serve a lawful public purpose. Additionally, the district and
the district charter are not in conflict with and shall not be
interpreted in a manner that is inconsistent with the
Tohopekaliga Water Authority Act.
(b)	The district, which is a local government and a
political subdivision, is limited to its special purpose as
expressed in this act, with the power to provide, plan,
implement, construct, maintain, and finance as a local
government management entity systems, facilities, services,
improvements, infrastructure, and projects, and possessing
financing powers to fund its management power over the long term
and with sustained levels of high quality.

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(c)	The creation of the Sunbridge Stewardship District by
and pursuant to this act, and its exercise of its management and
related financing powers to implement its limited, single, and
special purpose, is not a development order and does not trigger
or invoke any provision within the meaning of chapter 380,
Florida Statutes, and all applicable governmental planning,
environmental, and land development laws, regulations, rules,
policies, and ordinances apply to all development of the land
within the jurisdiction of the district as created by this act.
(d)	The district shall operate and function subject to,
and not inconsistent with, the applicable comprehensive plan of
Osceola County and any applicable development orders (e.g.
detailed specific area plan development orders), zoning
regulations, and other land development regulations.
(e)	The special and single purpose Sunbridge Stewardship
District shall not have the power of a general-purpose local
government to adopt a comprehensive plan or related land
development regulation as those terms are defined in the
Community Planning Act.
(f)	This act may be amended, in whole or in part, only by
special act of the Legislature. The board of supervisors of the
district shall not ask the Legislature to amend this act without
first obtaining a resolution or official statement from Osceola
County as required by s. 189.031(2)(e)4., Florida Statutes, for
creation of an independent special district. The board shall not

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ask the Legislature to amend this act related to the delivery of
potable and nonpotable water and wastewater services in Osceola
County without first obtaining a resolution approving such
amendment from the Tohopekaliga Water Authority or its
successors.
(g)	Nothing in this act is intended to, or shall be
construed to, conflict with the Tohopekaliga Water Authority
Act. Nothing in this act is intended to, or shall be construed
to, limit the power of the Tohopekaliga Water Authority or its
successors.
Section 3.	Minimum charter requirements; creation and
establishment; jurisdiction; construction; charter.—
(1)	Pursuant to s. 189.031(3), Florida Statutes, the
Legislature sets forth that the minimum requirements in
paragraphs (a) through (o) have been met in the identified
provisions of this act as follows:
(a)	The purpose of the district is stated in the act in
subsection (4) and in sections 2 and 3.
(b)	The powers, functions, and duties of the district
regarding ad valorem taxation, bond issuance, other revenue-
raising capabilities, budget preparation and approval, liens and
foreclosure of liens, use of tax deeds and tax certificates as
appropriate for non-ad valorem assessments, and contractual
agreements are set forth in section 6.

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(c)	The provisions for methods for establishing the
district are in this section.
(d)	The methods for amending the charter of the district
are set forth in section 2.
(e)	The provisions for the membership and organization of
the governing body and the establishment of a quorum are in
section 5.
(f)	The provisions regarding maximum compensation of each
board member are in section 5.
(g)	The provisions regarding the administrative duties of
the governing body are found in sections 5 and 6.
(h)	The provisions applicable to financial disclosure,
noticing, and reporting requirements generally are set forth in
sections 5 and 6.
(i)	The provisions regarding procedures and requirements
for issuing bonds are set forth in section 6.
(j)	The provisions regarding elections or referenda and
the qualifications of an elector of the district are in sections
2 and 5.
(k)	The provisions regarding methods for financing the
district are generally in section 6.
(l)	Other than taxes levied for the payment of bonds and
taxes levied for periods not longer than 2 years when authorized
by vote of the electors of the district, the provisions for the

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authority to levy ad valorem tax and the authorized millage rate
are in section 6.
(m)	The provisions for the method or methods of collecting
non-ad valorem assessments, fees, or service charges are in
section 6.
(n)	The provisions for planning requirements are in this
section and section 6.
(o)	The provisions for geographic boundary limitations of
the district are set forth in sections 4 and 6.
(2)	The Sunbridge Stewardship District is created and
incorporated as a public body corporate and politic, an
independent special and limited purpose local government, an
independent special district, under s. 189.031, Florida
Statutes, as amended from time to time, and as defined in this
act and in s. 189.012(3), Florida Statutes, as amended from time
to time, in and for portions of Osceola County. Any amendments
to chapter 190, Florida Statutes, after January 1, 2017,
granting additional general powers, special powers, authorities,
or projects to a community development district by amendment to
its uniform charter, ss. 190.006-190.041, Florida Statutes,
which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act,
shall constitute a general power, special power, authority, or
function of the Sunbridge Stewardship District. All notices for
the enactment by the Legislature of this special act have been
provided pursuant to the State Constitution, the Laws of

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Florida, and the Rules of the Florida House of Representatives
and of the Florida Senate. No referendum subsequent to the
effective date of this act is required as a condition of
establishing the district. Therefore, the district, as created
by this act, is established on the property described in this
act.
(3)	The territorial boundary of the district shall embrace
and include all of that certain real property described in
section 4.
(4)	The jurisdiction of this district, in the exercise of
its general and special powers, and in the carrying out of its
special and limited purposes, is both within the external
boundaries of the legal description of this district and
extraterritorially when limited to, and as authorized expressly
elsewhere in, the charter of the district as created in this act
or applicable general law. This special and limited purpose
district is created as a public body corporate and politic, and
local government authority and power is limited by its charter,
this act, and subject to the provisions of other general laws,
including chapter 189, Florida Statutes, except that an
inconsistent provision in this act shall control and the
district has jurisdiction to perform such acts and exercise such
authorities, functions, and powers as shall be necessary,
convenient, incidental, proper, or reasonable for the
implementation of its special and limited purpose regarding the

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sound planning, provision, acquisition, development, operation,
maintenance, and related financing of those public systems,
facilities, services, improvements, projects, and infrastructure
works as authorized herein, including those necessary and
incidental thereto. The district shall exercise any of its
powers extraterritorially within Osceola County upon execution
of an interlocal agreement between the district and Osceola
County consenting to the district's exercise of any of such
powers within Osceola County or an applicable development order
issued by Osceola County. The district shall exercise its power
concerning the acquisition, development, operation, and
management of a water system, reclaimed water system, and sewer
system within the boundaries or the service area of the
Tohopekaliga Water Authority upon execution of and in a manner
consistent with an interlocal or similar agreement between the
district and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority or an investor
owned utility regulated by the Florida Public Service
Commission.
(5)	The exclusive charter of the Sunbridge Stewardship
District is this act and, except as otherwise provided in
subsection (2), may be amended only by special act of the
Legislature.
Section 4.	Legal description of the Sunbridge Stewardship
District.—The metes and bounds legal description of the
district, within which there are no parcels of property owned by

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those who do not wish their property to be included within the
district, is as follows:

548	Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24, Township 25
South, Range 31 East, Osceola County, Florida. AND:
The Northwest one-quarter (NW 1/4), The Northeast one-
quarter (NE 1/4) and all unsurveyed properties in the
Northeast one-quarter (NE 1/4) of Section 25, Township
25 South, Range 31 East, Osceola County, Florida. AND:
The Northeast one-quarter (NE 1/4) of Section 27,
Township 25 South, Range 31 East, Osceola County,
Florida. AND: The West one-half (W 1/2) of the
Northwest one-quarter (NW 1/4) of Section 26, Township
25 South, Range 31 East, Osceola County, Florida. AND: 559	Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32 and 33, Township 25 South, Range 32 East,
Osceola County, Florida. AND: All lands in Sections 4,
9, 10, 15, 22, 27 and 34, Township 25 South, Range 32
East, Osceola County, Florida, lying West of the
Easterly limits of the jurisdictional wetlands
comprising the Econlockhatchee River Swamp. 566
567	AND:
568

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569	The South 1/2 of Section 36, Township 25 South, Range
570	31 East, Osceola County, Florida. 571
572	All of New Eden on the Lakes, Unit 8, as filed and
573	recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 336 of the Public
574	Records of Osceola County, Florida. 575
All of New Eden on the Lakes, Replat of Unit 9, as
filed and recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 341 of the
Public Records of Osceola County, Florida, together
with: Beginning at the Southeast corner of the NE 1/4
of the NW 1/4 of Section 36, T25S, R31E, Osceola
County, Florida, run N00°56'29"W, along the East line
of the NW 1/4 of said Section 36, 1196.59 ft. to the
South Right of Way line of State Road No. 532; run
thence S86°43'09"W, along said South Right of Way
line, 100.57 ft. to the Point of Curve of a 13596.54
ft. Radius Curve to the Left; run thence along said
Curve, 64.40 ft. (Chord bearing S86°35'01"W, Chord = 588	64.40 ft.); run thence S03°13'22"E, 1191.61 ft. to the
North line of New Eden on the Lakes, Replat of Unit 9,
as filed and recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 341 of the
Public Records of Osceola County, Florida; run thence
N88°35'24"E, along said North line, 117.40 ft. to the
Point of Beginning.	Said land also described as Lot 1

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of the unrecorded plat of a portion of the N 1/2 of
the NW 1/4 of Section 36, T25S, R31E, Osceola County,
Florida, done by Johnston's Engineers, Inc. under the
date of March 29, 1966. 598
599	AND:
600
601	Lot 1, COUNTRY MEADOW NORTH, according to the plat 602	thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 233 of the 603	Public Records of Osceola County, Florida.
604
605	LESS AND EXCEPT: The West thirty (30) feet of the 606	Northwest quarter of the Southwest quarter (NW1/4 of
607	SW1/4) of said Section Fourteen (14), Township twenty- 608	five (25) South, Range thirty-one (31) East, Osceola 609	County, Florida (Deed Book 95, Page 353).
610
611	LESS AND EXCEPT: BEGIN at the Southwest corner of  612	Section 23, Township 25 South, Range 31 East, Osceola
613	County, Florida, thence run North 00°00'10" West along 614	the West line of said Section 23, a distance of
615	1,150.00 feet to a point; thence departing said West 616	line run North 89°52'31" East, a distance of 465.00 617	feet to a point; thence run South 00°00'10" East, a 618	distance of 600.00 feet to a point; thence run South

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619	89°52'31" West, a distance of 340.00 feet to a point; 620	thence run South 00°00'10" East, a distance of 550.00 621	feet to a point on the South line of said Section 23; 622	thence run South 89°52'31" West along said South line, 623	a distance of 125.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING 624	(Official Records Book 945, Page 2911).
625
626	LESS AND EXCEPT: A Parcel of Land in that part of  627	Section 1, Township 25 South, Range 31 East, Osceola 628	County, Florida, lying within the right-of-way of  629	Canal 30 as described in Official Records Book 12, 630	Page 143, Osceola County, Florida, public records: 631	said parcel of land being more specifically described 632	as follows: From a 5" x 5" concrete monument marking
633	the Northeast (NE) corner of the South one-half (S1/2) 634	of said Section 1, the coordinates of which are X = 635	448,239.56 and Y = 1,456,639.11, bear South 89°41'18"
636	West, along the North line of the South one-half  637	(S1/2) of said Section 1, a distance of 4190.40 feet
638    to the intersection thereof with the Easterly right- 639    of-way line of said Canal 30; Thence, South 0°05'45" 640 East, along said Easterly right-of-way line, a
641	distance of 756.08 feet to the point of beginning; 642	Thence, continue South 0°05'45" East, along said
643	Easterly right-of-way line, a distance of 196.57 feet;

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644    Thence, South 89°54'15" West, a distance of 350.00 645    feet to the intersection thereof with the Westerly 646 right-of-way line of said Canal 30; Thence, North
647	0°05'45" West, along said Westerly right-of-way line, 648	a distance of 196.57 feet; Thence, North 89°54'15"
649	East, along said Westerly right-of-way line a distance 650	of 350.00 feet to the point of beginning. The bearings 651	and coordinates in the above description refer to the 652	standard plane rectangular coordinate system for the 653	East Zone of Florida (Official Records Book 169, Page 654	298).
655
656	LESS AND EXCEPT: Jones Road Right-of-Way as described 657	in Deed Book 155, Page 318 of the Public Records of 658	Osceola County, Florida.
659
660	LESS AND EXCEPT: County Road 532 (Nova Road) Right-of- 661	Way as described in Official Records Book 118, Page 4 662	of the Public Records of Osceola County, Florida.
663
664	Being subject to any rights-of-way, restrictions and easements 665	of record.
666

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667		Section 5.	Board of supervisors; members and meetings; 668	organization; powers; duties; terms of office; related election 669	requirements.—
670    (1)  The board of the district shall exercise the powers 671 granted to the district pursuant to this act. The board shall 672 consist of five members, each of whom shall hold office for a 673 term of 4 years, as provided in this section, except as
674 otherwise provided herein for initial board members, and until a 675 successor is chosen and qualified. The members of the board must 676 be residents of the state and citizens of the United States.
677		(2)(a)	Within 90 days after the effective date of this 678	act, there shall be held a meeting of the landowners of the 679	district for the purpose of electing five supervisors for the 680	district. Notice of the landowners' meeting shall be published 681	once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper that is in
682	general circulation in the area of the district, the last day of 683	such publication to be not fewer than 14 days or more than 28 684	days before the date of the election. The landowners, when
685	assembled at such meeting, shall organize by electing a chair, 686	who shall conduct the meeting. The chair may be any person
687	present at the meeting. If the chair is a landowner or proxy 688	holder of a landowner, he or she may nominate candidates and 689	make and second motions. The landowners present at the meeting, 690	in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. At any
691	landowners' meeting, 50 percent of the district acreage shall

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692	not be required to constitute a quorum, and each governing board 693	member elected by landowners shall be elected by a majority of 694	the acreage represented either by owner or proxy present and  695	voting at said meeting.
696		(b)	At such meeting, each landowner shall be entitled to 697	cast one vote per acre of land owned by him or her and located 698	within the district for each person to be elected. A landowner 699	may vote in person or by proxy in writing. Each proxy must be 700	signed by one of the legal owners of the property for which the 701	vote is cast and must contain the typed or printed name of the 702	individual who signed the proxy; the street address, legal
703	description of the property, or tax parcel identification 704	number; and the number of authorized votes. If the proxy
705	authorizes more than one vote, each property must be listed and 706	the number of acres of each property must be included. The
707	signature on a proxy need not be notarized. A fraction of an  708	acre shall be treated as 1 acre, entitling the landowner to one 709	vote with respect thereto. The three candidates receiving the 710	highest number of votes shall each be elected for terms expiring 711	November 17, 2020, and the two candidates receiving the next  712	largest number of votes shall each be elected for terms expiring 713	November 20, 2018, with the term of office for each successful 714	candidate commencing upon election. The members of the first  715	board elected by landowners shall serve their respective terms;
716	however, the next election of board members shall be held on the

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717	first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2018.
718	Thereafter, there shall be an election by landowners for the 719	district every 2 years on the first Tuesday after the first
720	Monday in November, which shall be noticed pursuant to paragraph 721	(a). The second and subsequent landowners' election shall be  722	announced at a public meeting of the board at least 90 days
723	before the date of the landowners' meeting and shall also be 724	noticed pursuant to paragraph (a). Instructions on how all 725	landowners may participate in the election, along with sample 726	proxies, shall be provided during the board meeting that
727	announces the landowners' meeting. Each supervisor elected in or 728	after November 2018 shall serve a 4-year term.
729		(3)(a)1.	The board may not exercise the ad valorem taxing 730	power authorized by this act until such time as all members of 731	the board are qualified electors who are elected by qualified 732	electors of the district.
733		2.a.	Regardless of whether the district has proposed to 734	levy ad valorem taxes, board members shall begin being elected 735	by qualified electors of the district as the district becomes 736	populated with qualified electors. The transition shall occur 737	such that the composition of the board, after the first general 738	election following a trigger of the qualified elector population 739	thresholds set forth below, shall be as follows:
740	(I)	Once 10,000 qualified electors reside within the
741	district, one governing board member shall be a person who is a

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742	qualified elector of the district and who was elected by the 743	qualified electors, and four governing board members shall be 744	persons who were elected by the landowners.
745		(II)	Once 20,000 qualified electors reside within the 746	district, two governing board members shall be persons who are 747	qualified electors of the district and who were elected by the 748	qualified electors, and three governing board members shall be 749	persons elected by the landowners.
750		(III)	Once 30,000 qualified electors reside within the  751	district, three governing board members shall be persons who are 752	qualified electors of the district and who were elected by the 753	qualified electors and two governing board members shall be
754	persons who were elected by the landowners.
755		(IV)	Once 40,000 qualified electors reside within the  756	district, four governing board members shall be persons who are 757	qualified electors of the district and who were elected by the 758	qualified electors and one governing board member shall be a 759	person who was elected by the landowners.
760	(V)	Once 45,000 qualified electors reside within the
761	district, all five governing board members shall be persons who 762	are qualified electors of the district and who were elected by 763	the qualified electors. In the event less than 45,000 qualified 764	electors reside within the district, but the development of the 765	district has completed the construction of 25,000 residential

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766	units or more, all five governing board members shall be persons 767	who were elected by the qualified electors.
768
769	Nothing in this sub-subparagraph is intended to require an  770	election prior to the expiration of an existing board member's 771	term.
772		b.	On or before June 1 of each election year, the board 773	shall determine the number of qualified electors in the district 774	as of the immediately preceding April 15. The board shall use 775	and rely upon the official records maintained by the supervisor 776	of elections and property appraiser or tax collector in Osceola 777	County in making this determination. Such determination shall be 778	made at a properly noticed meeting of the board and shall become 779	a part of the official minutes of the district.
780	c.	All governing board members elected by qualified
781	electors shall be elected at large at an election occurring as 782	provided in subsection (2) and this subsection.
783		d.	All governing board members elected by qualified 784	electors shall reside in the district.
785		e.	Once the district qualifies to have any of its board 786	members elected by the qualified electors of the district, the 787	initial and all subsequent elections by the qualified electors 788	of the district shall be held at the general election in
789	November. The board shall adopt a resolution, if necessary, to 790	implement this requirement. The transition process described

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791	herein is intended to be in lieu of the process set forth in s. 792	189.041, Florida Statutes.
793		(b)	Elections of board members by qualified electors held 794	pursuant to this subsection shall be nonpartisan and shall be 795	conducted in the manner prescribed by law for holding general 796	elections. Board members shall assume the office on the second 797	Tuesday following their election.
798		(c)	Candidates seeking election to office by qualified 799	electors under this subsection shall conduct their campaigns in
800	accordance with the provisions of chapter 106, Florida Statutes, 801	and shall file qualifying papers and qualify for individual
802	seats in accordance with s. 99.061, Florida Statutes. 803		(d)	The supervisor of elections shall appoint the
804	inspectors and clerks of elections, prepare and furnish the  805	ballots, designate polling places, and canvass the returns of 806	the election of board members by qualified electors. The county 807	canvassing board shall declare and certify the results of the 808	election.
809		(4)	Members of the board, regardless of how elected, shall 810	be public officers, shall be known as supervisors, and, upon
811	entering into office, shall take and subscribe to the oath of 812	office as prescribed by s. 876.05, Florida Statutes. Members of 813	the board shall be subject to ethics and conflict of interest 814	laws of the state that apply to all local public officers. They 815	shall hold office for the terms for which they were elected or

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816 appointed and until their successors are chosen and qualified. 817 If, during the term of office, a vacancy occurs, the remaining 818 members of the board shall fill each vacancy by an appointment 819 for the remainder of the unexpired term.
820		(5)	Any elected member of the board of supervisors may be 821	removed by the Governor for malfeasance, misfeasance,
822	dishonesty, incompetency, or failure to perform the duties
823	imposed upon him or her by this act, and any vacancies that may 824	occur in such office for such reasons shall be filled by the 825	Governor as soon as practicable.
826		(6)	A majority of the members of the board constitutes a 827	quorum for the purposes of conducting its business and
828	exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action taken 829	by the district shall be upon a vote of a majority of the
830	members present unless general law or a rule of the district 831	requires a greater number.
832	(7)	As soon as practicable after each election or
833	appointment, the board shall organize by electing one of its 834	members as chair and by electing a secretary, who need not be a 835	member of the board, and such other officers as the board may 836	deem necessary.
837		(8)	The board shall keep a permanent record book entitled 838	"Record of Proceedings of Sunbridge Stewardship District," in 839	which shall be recorded minutes of all meetings, resolutions, 840	proceedings, certificates, bonds given by all employees, and any

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841	and all corporate acts. The record book and all other district 842	records shall at reasonable times be opened to inspection in the 843	same manner as state, county, and municipal records pursuant to 844	chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The record book shall be kept at 845	the office or other regular place of business maintained by the 846	board in a designated location in Osceola County.
847		(9)	Each supervisor shall not be entitled to receive  848	compensation for his or her services; however, each supervisor 849	shall receive travel and per diem expenses as set forth in s. 850	112.061, Florida Statutes.
851    (10)  All meetings of the board shall be open to the public 852 and governed by the provisions of chapter 286, Florida Statutes. 853 Section 6. Board of supervisors; general duties.—
854		(1)	DISTRICT MANAGER AND EMPLOYEES.—The board shall employ 855	and fix the compensation of a district manager, who shall have 856	charge and supervision of the works of the district and shall be 857	responsible for preserving and maintaining any improvement or 858	facility constructed or erected pursuant to the provisions of 859	this act, for maintaining and operating the equipment owned by 860	the district, and for performing such other duties as may be
861	prescribed by the board. It shall not be a conflict of interest 862	under chapter 112, Florida Statutes, for a board member, the 863	district manager, or another employee of the district to be a 864	stockholder, officer, or employee of a landowner. The district 865	manager may hire or otherwise employ and terminate the

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866	employment of such other persons, including, without limitation, 867	professional, supervisory, and clerical employees, as may be
868	necessary and authorized by the board. The compensation and  869	other conditions of employment of the officers and employees of 870	the district shall be as provided by the board.
871		(2)	TREASURER.—The board shall designate a person who is a 872	resident of the state as treasurer of the district, who shall 873	have charge of the funds of the district. Such funds shall be 874	disbursed only upon the order of or pursuant to a resolution of 875	the board by warrant or check countersigned by the treasurer and 876	by such other person as may be authorized by the board. The
877	board may give the treasurer such other or additional powers and 878	duties as the board may deem appropriate and may fix his or her 879	compensation. The board may require the treasurer to give a bond 880	in such amount, on such terms, and with such sureties as may be 881	deemed satisfactory to the board to secure the performance by 882	the treasurer of his or her powers and duties. The financial
883	records of the board shall be audited by an independent 884	certified public accountant at least once a year.
885		(3)	PUBLIC DEPOSITORY.—The board is authorized to select 886	as a depository for its funds any qualified public depository as 887	defined in s. 280.02, Florida Statutes, which meets all the
888	requirements of chapter 280, Florida Statutes, and has been 889	designated by the treasurer as a qualified public depository
890	upon such terms and conditions as to the payment of interest by

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891	such depository upon the funds so deposited as the board may 892	deem just and reasonable.
893	(4)	BUDGET; REPORTS AND REVIEWS.—
894		(a)	The district shall provide financial reports in such 895	form and such manner as prescribed pursuant to this act and 896	chapter 218, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
897	(b)	On or before July 15 of each year, the district
898	manager shall prepare a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal 899	year to be submitted to the board for board approval. The
900	proposed budget shall include at the direction of the board an 901	estimate of all necessary expenditures of the district for the 902	ensuing fiscal year and an estimate of income to the district 903	from the taxes and assessments provided in this act. The board 904	shall consider the proposed budget item by item and may either 905	approve the budget as proposed by the district manager or modify 906	the same in part or in whole. The board shall indicate its
907	approval of the budget by resolution, which resolution shall 908	provide for a hearing on the budget as approved. Notice of the 909	hearing on the budget shall be published in a newspaper of
910	general circulation in the area of the district once a week for 911	two consecutive weeks, except that the first publication shall 912	be no fewer than 15 days prior to the date of the hearing. The 913	notice shall further contain a designation of the day, time, and 914	place of the public hearing. At the time and place designated in 915	the notice, the board shall hear all objections to the budget as

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916	proposed and may make such changes as the board deems necessary. 917	At the conclusion of the budget hearing, the board shall, by  918	resolution, adopt the budget as finally approved by the board.
919	The budget shall be adopted prior to October 1 of each year. 920		(c)	At least 60 days prior to adoption, the board of
921	supervisors of the district shall submit to the Board of County 922	Commissioners of Osceola County, for purposes of disclosure and 923	information only, the proposed annual budget for the ensuing 924	fiscal year, and the board of county commissioners may submit 925	written comments to the board of supervisors solely for the
926	assistance and information of the board of supervisors of the 927	district in adopting its annual district budget.
928		(d)	The board of supervisors of the district shall submit 929	annually a public facilities report to the Board of County
930	Commissioners of Osceola County pursuant to Florida Statutes. 931	The board of county commissioners may use and rely on the
932	district's public facilities report in the preparation or 933	revision of the Osceola County comprehensive plan.
934	(5)	DISCLOSURE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; WEB-BASED PUBLIC
935	ACCESS.—The district shall take affirmative steps to provide for 936	the full disclosure of information relating to the public
937	financing and maintenance of improvements to real property 938	undertaken by the district. Such information shall be made 939	available to all existing residents and all prospective 940	residents of the district. The district shall furnish each

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941	developer of a residential development within the district with 942	sufficient copies of that information to provide each
943	prospective initial purchaser of property in that development 944	with a copy; and any developer of a residential development 945	within the district, when required by law to provide a public 946	offering statement, shall include a copy of such information
947	relating to the public financing and maintenance of improvements 948	in the public offering statement. The district shall file the 949	disclosure documents required by this subsection and any
950	amendments thereto in the property records of each county in 951	which the district is located. By the end of the first full 952	fiscal year of the district's creation, the district shall 953	maintain an official Internet website in accordance with s. 954	189.069, Florida Statutes.
955		(6)	GENERAL POWERS.—The district shall have, and the board 956	may exercise, the following general powers:
957		(a)	To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to 958	adopt and use a seal and authorize the use of a facsimile  959	thereof; to acquire, by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, 960	and to dispose of, real and personal property, or any estate
961	therein; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments 962	necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.
963		(b)	To apply for coverage of its employees under the 964	Florida Retirement System in the same manner as if such 965	employees were state employees.

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966		(c)	To contract for the services of consultants to perform 967	planning, engineering, legal, or other appropriate services of a 968	professional nature. Such contracts shall be subject to public 969	bidding or competitive negotiation requirements as set forth in 970	general law applicable to independent special districts.
971		(d)	To borrow money and accept gifts; to apply for and use 972	grants or loans of money or other property from the United
973	States, the state, a unit of local government, or any person for 974	any district purposes and enter into agreements required in
975	connection therewith; and to hold, use, and dispose of such  976	moneys or property for any district purposes in accordance with 977	the terms of the gift, grant, loan, or agreement relating
978	thereto.
979		(e)	To adopt and enforce rules and orders pursuant to the 980	provisions of chapter 120, Florida Statutes, prescribing the 981	powers, duties, and functions of the officers of the district; 982	the conduct of the business of the district; the maintenance of 983	records; and the form of certificates evidencing tax liens and 984	all other documents and records of the district. The board may 985	also adopt and enforce administrative rules with respect to any 986	of the projects of the district and define the area to be
987	included therein. The board may also adopt resolutions which may 988	be necessary for the conduct of district business.

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989	(f)	To maintain an office at such place or places as the	
990	board of supervisors designates in Osceola County, and within	
991	the district when facilities are available.	
992	(g)	To hold, control, and acquire by donation, purchase,	
993	or condemnation, or dispose of, any public easements,	
994	dedications to public use, platted reservations for public	
995	purposes, or any reservations for those purposes authorized by	
996	this act and to make use of such easements, dedications, or	
997	reservations for the purposes authorized by this act.	
998	(h)	To lease as lessor or lessee to or from any person,	
999	firm, corporation, association, or body, public or private, any	
1000	projects of the type that the district is authorized to	
1001	undertake and facilities or property of any nature for the use	
1002	of the district to carry out the purposes authorized by this	
1003	act.	
1004	(i)	To borrow money and issue bonds, certificates,	
1005	warrants, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness as provided	
1006	herein; to levy such taxes and assessments as may be authorized;	
1007	and to charge, collect, and enforce fees and other user charges.	
1008	(j)	To raise, by user charges or fees authorized by	
1009	resolution of the board, amounts of money which are necessary	
1010	for the conduct of district activities and services and to	
1011	enforce their receipt and collection in the manner prescribed by	
1012	resolution not inconsistent with law.	

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1013	(k)	To exercise all powers of eminent domain now or	
1014	hereafter conferred on counties in this state provided, however,	
1015	that such power of eminent domain may not be exercised outside	
1016	the territorial limits of the district unless the district	
1017	receives prior approval by vote of a resolution of the governing	
1018	body of the county if the taking will occur in an unincorporated	
1019	area in that county, or the governing body of the city if the	
1020	taking will occur in an incorporated area. The district shall	
1021	not have the power to exercise eminent domain over municipal,	
1022	county, state, or federal property. The powers hereinabove	
1023	granted to the district shall be so construed to enable the	
1024	district to fulfill the objects and purposes of the district as	
1025	set forth in this act.	
1026	(l)	To cooperate with, or contract with, other	
1027	governmental agencies as may be necessary, convenient,	
1028	incidental, or proper in connection with any of the powers,	
1029	duties, or purposes authorized by this act.	
1030	(m)	To assess and to impose upon lands in the district ad	
1031	valorem taxes as provided by this act.	
1032	(n)	If and when authorized by general law, to determine,	
1033	order, levy, impose, collect, and enforce maintenance taxes.	
1034	(o)	To determine, order, levy, impose, collect, and	
1035	enforce assessments pursuant to this act and chapter 170,	
1036	Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time, pursuant to	
1037	authority granted in s. 197.3631, Florida Statutes, or pursuant	

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1038	to other provisions of general law now or hereinafter enacted	
1039	which provide or authorize a supplemental means to order, levy,	
1040	impose, or collect special assessments. Such special	
1041	assessments, in the discretion of the district, may be collected	
1042	and enforced pursuant to the provisions of ss. 197.3632 and	
1043	197.3635, Florida Statutes, and chapters 170 and 173, Florida	
1044	Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time, or as	
1045	provided by this act, or by other means authorized by general	
1046	law now or hereinafter enacted. The district may levy such	
1047	special assessments for the purposes enumerated in this act and	
1048	to pay special assessments imposed by Osceola County on lands	
1049	within the district.	
1050	(p)	To exercise such special powers and other express	
1051	powers as may be authorized and granted by this act in the	
1052	charter of the district, including powers as provided in any	
1053	interlocal agreement entered into pursuant to chapter 163,	
1054	Florida Statutes, or which shall be required or permitted to be	
1055	undertaken by the district pursuant to any development order,	
1056	including any detailed specific area plan development order, or	
1057	any interlocal service agreement with Osceola County for fair-	
1058	share capital construction funding for any certain capital	
1059	facilities or systems required of a developer pursuant to any	
1060	applicable development order or agreement.	
1061	(q)	To exercise all of the powers necessary, convenient,	
1062	incidental, or proper in connection with any other powers or	

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1063	duties or the special and limited purpose of the district	
1064	authorized by this act.	
1065		
1066	The provisions of this subsection shall be construed liberally	
1067	in order to carry out effectively the special and limited	
1068	purpose of this act.	
1069	(7)	SPECIAL POWERS.—The district shall have, and the board	
1070	may exercise, the following special powers to implement its	
1071	lawful and special purpose and to provide, pursuant to that	
1072	purpose, systems, facilities, services, improvements, projects,	
1073	works, and infrastructure, each of which constitutes a lawful	
1074	public purpose when exercised pursuant to this charter, subject	
1075	to, and not inconsistent with, general law regarding utility	
1076	providers' territorial and service agreements, the regulatory	
1077	jurisdiction and permitting authority of all other applicable	
1078	governmental bodies, agencies, and any special districts having	
1079	authority with respect to any area included therein, and to	
1080	plan, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or	
1081	extend, equip, operate, finance, fund, and maintain	
1082	improvements, systems, facilities, services, works, projects,	
1083	and infrastructure. Any or all of the following special powers	
1084	are granted by this act in order to implement the special and	
1085	limited purpose of the district:	
1086	(a)	To provide water management and control for the lands	
1087	within the district and to connect some or any of such	

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1088	facilities with roads and bridges. In the event that the board	
1089	assumes the responsibility for providing water management and	
1090	control for the district which is to be financed by benefit	
1091	special assessments, the board shall adopt plans and assessments	
1092	pursuant to law or may proceed to adopt water management and	
1093	control plans, assess for benefits, and apportion and levy	
1094	special assessments, as follows:	
1095	1.	The board shall cause to be made by the district's	
1096	engineer, or such other engineer or engineers as the board may	
1097	employ for that purpose, complete and comprehensive water	
1098	management and control plans for the lands located within the	
1099	district that will be improved in any part or in whole by any	
1100	system of facilities that may be outlined and adopted, and the	
1101	engineer shall make a report in writing to the board with maps	
1102	and profiles of said surveys and an estimate of the cost of	
1103	carrying out and completing the plans.	
1104	2.	Upon the completion of such plans, the board shall hold	
1105	a hearing thereon to hear objections thereto, shall give notice	
1106	of the time and place fixed for such hearing by publication once	
1107	each week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general	
1108	circulation in the general area of the district, and shall	
1109	permit the inspection of the plan at the office of the district	
1110	by all persons interested. All objections to the plan shall be	
1111	filed at or before the time fixed in the notice for the hearing	
1112	and shall be in writing.	

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1113	3.	After the hearing, the board shall consider the	
1114	proposed plan and any objections thereto and may modify, reject,	
1115	or adopt the plan or continue the hearing until a day certain	
1116	for further consideration of the proposed plan or modifications	
1117	thereof.	
1118	4.	When the board approves a plan, a resolution shall be	
1119	adopted and a certified copy thereof shall be filed in the	
1120	office of the secretary and incorporated by him or her into the	
1121	records of the district.	
1122	5.	The water management and control plan may be altered in	
1123	detail from time to time until the engineer's report pursuant to	
1124	s. 298.301, Florida Statutes, is filed but not in such manner as	
1125	to affect materially the conditions of its adoption. After the	
1126	engineer's report has been filed, no alteration of the plan	
1127	shall be made, except as provided by this act.	
1128	6.	Within 20 days after the final adoption of the plan by	
1129	the board, the board shall proceed pursuant to s. 298.301,	
1130	Florida Statutes.	
1131	(b)	To provide water supply, sewer, wastewater, and	
1132	reclaimed water management, reclamation, and reuse, or any	
1133	combination thereof, and any irrigation systems, facilities, and	
1134	services and to construct and operate water systems, sewer	
1135	systems, and reclaimed water systems such as connecting	
1136	intercepting or outlet sewers and sewer mains and pipes and	
1137	water mains, conduits, or pipelines in, along, and under any	

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1138	street, alley, highway, or other public place or ways, and to	
1139	dispose of any effluent, residue, or other byproducts of such	
1140	water system, sewer system, or reclaimed water system and to	
1141	enter into interlocal agreements and other agreements with	
1142	public or private entities for the same. However, such authority	
1143	shall be subordinate and subject to the existing powers of the	
1144	Tohopekaliga Water Authority to provide water supply, sewer,	
1145	wastewater, and reclaimed water service within the Tohopekaliga	
1146	Water Authority's service area; and such authority shall be	
1147	subordinate and subject to the existing powers of East Central	
1148	Florida Services, Inc., to provide water supply service within	
1149	its service area as set forth in its certificate from the	
1150	Florida Public Service Commission.	
1151	(c)	To provide bridges, culverts, wildlife corridors, or	
1152	road crossings that may be needed across any drain, ditch,	
1153	canal, floodway, holding basin, excavation, public highway,	
1154	tract, grade, fill, or cut and roadways over levees and	
1155	embankments, and to construct any and all of such works and	
1156	improvements across, through, or over any public right-of way,	
1157	highway, grade, fill, or cut.	
1158	(d)	To provide district roads equal to or exceeding the	
1159	specifications of the county in which such district roads are	
1160	located, and to provide street lights. This special power	
1161	includes, but is not limited to, roads, parkways, intersections,	
1162	bridges, landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation, bicycle lanes,	

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1163	sidewalks, jogging paths, multiuse pathways and trails, street	
1164	lighting, traffic signals, regulatory or informational signage,	
1165	road striping, underground conduit, underground cable or fiber	
1166	or wire installed pursuant to an agreement with or tariff of a	
1167	retail provider of services, and all other customary elements of	
1168	a functioning modern road system in general or as tied to the	
1169	conditions of development approval for the area within the	
1170	district, and parking facilities that are freestanding or that	
1171	may be related to any innovative strategic intermodal system of	
1172	transportation pursuant to applicable federal, state, and local	
1173	law and ordinance.	
1174	(e)	To provide buses, trolleys, rail access, mass transit	
1175	facilities, transit shelters, ridesharing facilities and	
1176	services, parking improvements, and related signage.	
1177	(f)	To provide investigation and remediation costs	
1178	associated with the cleanup of actual or perceived environmental	
1179	contamination within the district under the supervision or	
1180	direction of a competent governmental authority unless the	
1181	covered costs benefit any person who is a landowner within the	
1182	district and who caused or contributed to the contamination.	
1183	(g)	To provide observation areas, mitigation areas,	
1184	wetland creation areas, and wildlife habitat, including the	
1185	maintenance of any plant or animal species, and any related	
1186	interest in real or personal property.	

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1187	(h)	Using its general and special powers as set forth in	
1188	this act, to provide any other project within or without the	
1189	boundaries of the district when the project is the subject of an	
1190	agreement between the district and the Board of County	
1191	Commissioners of Osceola County or with any other applicable	
1192	public or private entity, and is not inconsistent with the	
1193	effective local comprehensive plans.	
1194	(i)	To provide parks and facilities for indoor and outdoor	
1195	recreational, cultural, and educational uses.	
1196	(j)	To provide school buildings and related structures,	
1197	which may be leased, sold, or donated to the school district,	
1198	for use in the educational system when authorized by the	
1199	district school board.	
1200	(k)	To provide security, including electronic intrusion-	
1201	detection systems and patrol cars, when authorized by proper	
1202	governmental agencies, and may contract with the appropriate	
1203	local general-purpose government agencies for an increased level	
1204	of such services within the district boundaries.	
1205	(l)	To provide control and elimination of mosquitoes and	
1206	other arthropods of public health importance.	
1207	(m)	To enter into impact fee, mobility fee, or other	
1208	similar credit agreements with Osceola County or a landowner	
1209	developer and to sell or assign such credits, on such terms as	
1210	the district deems appropriate.	

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1211	(n)	To provide buildings and structures for district	
1212	offices, maintenance facilities, meeting facilities, town	
1213	centers, or any other project authorized or granted by this act.	
1214	(o)	To establish and create, at noticed meetings, such	
1215	departments of the board of supervisors of the district, as well	
1216	as committees, task forces, boards, or commissions, or other	
1217	agencies under the supervision and control of the district, as	
1218	from time to time the members of the board may deem necessary or	
1219	desirable in the performance of the acts or other things	
1220	necessary to exercise the board's general or special powers to	
1221	implement an innovative project to carry out the special and	
1222	limited purpose of the district as provided in this act and to	
1223	delegate the exercise of its powers to such departments, boards,	
1224	task forces, committees, or other agencies, and such	
1225	administrative duties and other powers as the board may deem	
1226	necessary or desirable, but only if there is a set of expressed	
1227	limitations for accountability, notice, and periodic written	
1228	reporting to the board that shall retain the powers of the	
1229	board.	
1230	(p)	To provide electrical, sustainable, or green	
1231	infrastructure improvements, facilities, and services,	
1232	including, but not limited to, recycling of natural resources,	
1233	reduction of energy demands, development and generation of	
1234	alternative or renewable energy sources and technologies,	
1235	mitigation of urban heat islands, sequestration, capping or	

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1236	trading of carbon emissions or carbon emissions credits, LEED or	
1237	Florida Green Building Coalition certification, and development	
1238	of facilities and improvements for low-impact development and to	
1239	enter into joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and	
1240	other agreements and to grant such easements as may be necessary	
1241	to accomplish the foregoing. Nothing herein shall authorize the	
1242	district to provide electric service to retail customers or	
1243	otherwise act to impair electric utility franchise agreements.	
1244	(q)	To provide for any facilities or improvements that may	
1245	otherwise be provided for by any county or municipality,	
1246	including, but not limited to, libraries, annexes, substations,	
1247	and other buildings to house public officials, staff, and	
1248	employees.	
1249	(r)	To provide waste collection and disposal, beginning	
1250	not earlier than October 1, 2018.	
1251	(s)	To provide for the construction and operation of	
1252	communications systems and related infrastructure for the	
1253	carriage and distribution of communications services, and to	
1254	enter into joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and	
1255	other agreements and to grant such easements as may be necessary	
1256	to accomplish the foregoing. Communications systems shall mean	
1257	all facilities, buildings, equipment, items, and methods	
1258	necessary or desirable in order to provide communications	
1259	services, including, without limitation, wires, cables,	
1260	conduits, wireless cell sites, computers, modems, satellite	

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1261	antennae sites, transmission facilities, network facilities, and	
1262	appurtenant devices necessary and appropriate to support the	
1263	provision of communications services. Communications services	
1264	includes, without limitation, internet, voice telephone or	
1265	similar services provided by voice over internet protocol, cable	
1266	television, data transmission services, electronic security	
1267	monitoring services, and multi-channel video programming	
1268	distribution services. Communications services provided by the	
1269	district shall carry or include any governmental channel or	
1270	other media content created or produced by Osceola County.	
1271	(t)	To provide health care facilities and to enter into	
1272	public-private partnerships and agreements as may be necessary	
1273	to accomplish the foregoing.	
1274	(u)	To coordinate, work with, and, as the board deems	
1275	appropriate, enter into interlocal agreements with any public or	
1276	private entity for the provision of an institution or	
1277	institutions of higher education.	
1278	(v)	To coordinate, work with, and as the board deems	
1279	appropriate, enter into public-private partnerships and	
1280	agreements as may be necessary or useful to effectuate the	
1281	purposes of this act.	
1282		
1283	The enumeration of special powers herein shall not be deemed	
1284	exclusive or restrictive but shall be deemed to incorporate all	
1285	powers express or implied necessary or incident to carrying out	

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1286	such enumerated special powers, including also the general	
1287	powers provided by this special act charter to the district to	
1288	implement its purposes. The district shall not initiate any	
1289	service during a fiscal year, if such service is then provided	
1290	by Osceola County and funded by Osceola County from the proceeds	
1291	of special assessments imposed within the district or from ad	
1292	valorem taxes levied within a municipal service taxing unit that	
1293	includes all or any portion of the district, unless notice is	
1294	provided to Osceola County not later than April 1 of the fiscal	
1295	year prior to initiating such service identifying such service	
1296	and the geographic area of the district in which such service	
1297	will be provided. Following the provision of such notice, the	
1298	district and Osceola County shall enter into an interlocal	
1299	agreement providing for a service transition that is revenue-	
1300	neutral for Osceola County prior to initiation of any such	
1301	service by the district. Further, the provisions of this	
1302	subsection shall be construed liberally in order to carry out	
1303	effectively the special and limited purpose of this district	
1304	under this act.	
1305	(8)	ISSUANCE OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES.—In addition to	
1306	the other powers provided for in this act, and not in limitation	
1307	thereof, the district shall have the power, at any time and from	
1308	time to time after the issuance of any bonds of the district	
1309	shall have been authorized, to borrow money for the purposes for	
1310	which such bonds are to be issued in anticipation of the receipt	

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1311	of the proceeds of the sale of such bonds and to issue bond	
1312	anticipation notes in a principal sum not in excess of the	
1313	authorized maximum amount of such bond issue. Such notes shall	
1314	be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such	
1315	rate as the board may determine not to exceed the maximum rate	
1316	allowed by general law, mature at such time or times not later	
1317	than 5 years from the date of issuance, and be in such form and	
1318	executed in such manner as the board shall prescribe. Such notes	
1319	may be sold at either public or private sale or, if such notes	
1320	shall be renewal notes, may be exchanged for notes then	
1321	outstanding on such terms as the board shall determine. Such	
1322	notes shall be paid from the proceeds of such bonds when issued.	
1323	The board may, in its discretion, in lieu of retiring the notes	
1324	by means of bonds, retire them by means of current revenues or	
1325	from any taxes or assessments levied for the payment of such	
1326	bonds, but, in such event, a like amount of the bonds authorized	
1327	shall not be issued.	
1328	(9)	BORROWING.—The district at any time may obtain loans,	
1329	in such amount and on such terms and conditions as the board may	
1330	approve, for the purpose of paying any of the expenses of the	
1331	district or any costs incurred or that may be incurred in	
1332	connection with any of the projects of the district, which loans	
1333	shall bear interest as the board determines, not to exceed the	
1334	maximum rate allowed by general law, and may be payable from and	
1335	secured by a pledge of such funds, revenues, taxes, and	

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1336	assessments as the board may determine, subject, however, to the	
1337	provisions contained in any proceeding under which bonds were	
1338	theretofore issued and are then outstanding. For the purpose of	
1339	defraying such costs and expenses, the district may issue	
1340	negotiable notes, warrants, or other evidences of debt to be	
1341	payable at such times and to bear such interest as the board may	
1342	determine, not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by general	
1343	law, and to be sold or discounted at such price or prices not	
1344	less than 95 percent of par value and on such terms as the board	
1345	may deem advisable. The board shall have the right to provide	
1346	for the payment thereof by pledging the whole or any part of the	
1347	funds, revenues, taxes, and assessments of the district or by	
1348	covenanting to budget and appropriate from such funds. The	
1349	approval of the electors residing in the district shall not be	
1350	necessary except when required by the State Constitution.	
1351	(10)	BONDS.—	
1352	(a)	Sale of bonds.—Bonds may be sold in blocks or	
1353	installments at different times, or an entire issue or series	
1354	may be sold at one time. Bonds may be sold at public or private	
1355	sale after such advertisement, if any, as the board may deem	
1356	advisable, but not in any event at less than 90 percent of the	
1357	par value thereof, together with accrued interest thereon. Bonds	
1358	may be sold or exchanged for refunding bonds. Special assessment	
1359	and revenue bonds may be delivered by the district as payment of	
1360	the purchase price of any project or part thereof, or a	

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1361	combination of projects or parts thereof, or as the purchase	
1362	price or exchange for any property, real, personal, or mixed,	
1363	including franchises or services rendered by any contractor,	
1364	engineer, or other person, all at one time or in blocks from	
1365	time to time, in such manner and upon such terms as the board in	
1366	its discretion shall determine. The price or prices for any	
1367	bonds sold, exchanged, or delivered may be:	
1368	1.	The money paid for the bonds.	
1369	2.	The principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date	
1370	of redemption or exchange, or outstanding obligations exchanged	
1371	for refunding bonds.	
1372	3.	In the case of special assessment or revenue bonds, the	
1373	amount of any indebtedness to contractors or other persons paid	
1374	with such bonds, or the fair value of any properties exchanged	
1375	for the bonds, as determined by the board.	
1376	(b)	Authorization and form of bonds.—Any general	
1377	obligation bonds, special assessment bonds, or revenue bonds may	
1378	be authorized by resolution or resolutions of the board which	
1379	shall be adopted by a majority of all the members thereof then	
1380	in office. Such resolution or resolutions may be adopted at the	
1381	same meeting at which they are introduced and need not be	
1382	published or posted. The board may, by resolution, authorize the	
1383	issuance of bonds and fix the aggregate amount of bonds to be	
1384	issued; the purpose or purposes for which the moneys derived	
1385	therefrom shall be expended, including, but not limited to,	

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1386	payment of costs as defined in section 2(2)(i); the rate or	
1387	rates of interest, not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by	
1388	general law; the denomination of the bonds; whether or not the	
1389	bonds are to be issued in one or more series; the date or dates	
1390	of maturity, which shall not exceed 40 years from their	
1391	respective dates of issuance; the medium of payment; the place	
1392	or places within or without the state at which payment shall be	
1393	made; registration privileges; redemption terms and privileges,	
1394	whether with or without premium; the manner of execution; the	
1395	form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached	
1396	thereto; the manner of execution of bonds and coupons; and any	
1397	and all other terms, covenants, and conditions thereof and the	
1398	establishment of revenue or other funds. Such authorizing	
1399	resolution or resolutions may further provide for the contracts	
1400	authorized by s. 159.825(1)(f) and (g), Florida Statutes,	
1401	regardless of the tax treatment of such bonds being authorized,	
1402	subject to the finding by the board of a net saving to the	
1403	district resulting by reason thereof. Such authorizing	
1404	resolution may further provide that such bonds may be executed	
1405	in accordance with the Registered Public Obligations Act, except	
1406	that bonds not issued in registered form shall be valid if	
1407	manually countersigned by an officer designated by appropriate	
1408	resolution of the board. The seal of the district may be	
1409	affixed, lithographed, engraved, or otherwise reproduced in	
1410	facsimile on such bonds. In case any officer whose signature	

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1411	shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be such	
1412	officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or	
1413	facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all	
1414	purposes the same as if he or she had remained in office until	
1415	such delivery.	
1416	(c)	Interim certificates; replacement certificates.—	
1417	Pending the preparation of definitive bonds, the board may issue	
1418	interim certificates or receipts or temporary bonds, in such	
1419	form and with such provisions as the board may determine,	
1420	exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds have been	
1421	executed and are available for delivery. The board may also	
1422	provide for the replacement of any bonds which become mutilated,	
1423	lost, or destroyed.	
1424	(d)	Negotiability of bonds.—Any bond issued under this act	
1425	or any temporary bond, in the absence of an express recital on	
1426	the face thereof that it is nonnegotiable, shall be fully	
1427	negotiable and shall be and constitute a negotiable instrument	
1428	within the meaning and for all purposes of the law merchant and	
1429	the laws of the state.	
1430	(e)	Defeasance.—The board may make such provision with	
1431	respect to the defeasance of the right, title, and interest of	
1432	the holders of any of the bonds and obligations of the district	
1433	in any revenues, funds, or other properties by which such bonds	
1434	are secured as the board deems appropriate and, without	
1435	limitation on the foregoing, may provide that when such bonds or	

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1436	obligations become due and payable or shall have been called for	
1437	redemption and the whole amount of the principal and interest	
1438	and premium, if any, due and payable upon the bonds or	
1439	obligations then outstanding shall be held in trust for such	
1440	purpose, and provision shall also be made for paying all other	
1441	sums payable in connection with such bonds or other obligations,	
1442	then and in such event the right, title, and interest of the	
1443	holders of the bonds in any revenues, funds, or other properties	
1444	by which such bonds are secured shall thereupon cease,	
1445	terminate, and become void; and the board may apply any surplus	
1446	in any sinking fund established in connection with such bonds or	
1447	obligations and all balances remaining in all other funds or	
1448	accounts other than moneys held for the redemption or payment of	
1449	the bonds or other obligations to any lawful purpose of the	
1450	district as the board shall determine.	
1451	(f)	Issuance of additional bonds.—If the proceeds of any	
1452	bonds are less than the cost of completing the project in	
1453	connection with which such bonds were issued, the board may	
1454	authorize the issuance of additional bonds, upon such terms and	
1455	conditions as the board may provide in the resolution	
1456	authorizing the issuance thereof, but only in compliance with	
1457	the resolution or other proceedings authorizing the issuance of	
1458	the original bonds.	
1459	(g)	Refunding bonds.—The district shall have the power to	
1460	issue bonds to provide for the retirement or refunding of any	

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1461	bonds or obligations of the district that at the time of such	
1462	issuance are or subsequent thereto become due and payable, or	
1463	that at the time of issuance have been called or are, or will	
1464	be, subject to call for redemption within 10 years thereafter,	
1465	or the surrender of which can be procured from the holders	
1466	thereof at prices satisfactory to the board. Refunding bonds may	
1467	be issued at any time that in the judgment of the board such	
1468	issuance will be advantageous to the district. No approval of	
1469	the qualified electors residing in the district shall be	
1470	required for the issuance of refunding bonds except in cases in	
1471	which such approval is required by the State Constitution. The	
1472	board may by resolution confer upon the holders of such	
1473	refunding bonds all rights, powers, and remedies to which the	
1474	holders would be entitled if they continued to be the owners and	
1475	had possession of the bonds for the refinancing of which such	
1476	refunding bonds are issued, including, but not limited to, the	
1477	preservation of the lien of such bonds on the revenues of any	
1478	project or on pledged funds, without extinguishment, impairment,	
1479	or diminution thereof. The provisions of this act pertaining to	
1480	bonds of the district shall, unless the context otherwise	
1481	requires, govern the issuance of refunding bonds, the form and	
1482	other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof, and	
1483	the duties of the board with respect to them.	
1484	(h)	Revenue bonds.—	

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1485	1.	The district shall have the power to issue revenue	
1486	bonds from time to time without limitation as to amount. Such	
1487	revenue bonds may be secured by, or payable from, the gross or	
1488	net pledge of the revenues to be derived from any project or	
1489	combination of projects; from the rates, fees, or other charges	
1490	to be collected from the users of any project or projects; from	
1491	any revenue-producing undertaking or activity of the district;	
1492	from special assessments; or from benefit special assessments;	
1493	or from any other source or pledged security. Such bonds shall	
1494	not constitute an indebtedness of the district, and the approval	
1495	of the qualified electors shall not be required unless such	
1496	bonds are additionally secured by the full faith and credit and	
1497	taxing power of the district.	
1498	2.	Any two or more projects may be combined and	
1499	consolidated into a single project and may hereafter be operated	
1500	and maintained as a single project. The revenue bonds authorized	
1501	herein may be issued to finance any one or more of such	
1502	projects, regardless of whether or not such projects have been	
1503	combined and consolidated into a single project. If the board	
1504	deems it advisable, the proceedings authorizing such revenue	
1505	bonds may provide that the district may thereafter combine the	
1506	projects then being financed or theretofore financed with other	
1507	projects to be subsequently financed by the district and that	
1508	revenue bonds to be thereafter issued by the district shall be	
1509	on parity with the revenue bonds then being issued, all on such	

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1510	terms, conditions, and limitations as shall have been provided	
1511	in the proceeding which authorized the original bonds.	
1512	(i)	General obligation bonds.—	
1513	1.	Subject to the limitations of this charter, the	
1514	district shall have the power from time to time to issue general	
1515	obligation bonds to finance or refinance capital projects or to	
1516	refund outstanding bonds in an aggregate principal amount of	
1517	bonds outstanding at any one time not in excess of 35 percent of	
1518	the assessed value of the taxable property within the district	
1519	as shown on the pertinent tax records at the time of the	
1520	authorization of the general obligation bonds for which the full	
1521	faith and credit of the district is pledged. Except for	
1522	refunding bonds, no general obligation bonds shall be issued	
1523	unless the bonds are issued to finance or refinance a capital	
1524	project and the issuance has been approved at an election held	
1525	in accordance with the requirements for such election as	
1526	prescribed by the State Constitution. Such elections shall be	
1527	called to be held in the district by the Board of County	
1528	Commissioners of Osceola County upon the request of the board of	
1529	the district. The expenses of calling and holding an election	
1530	shall be at the expense of the district and the district shall	
1531	reimburse the county for any expenses incurred in calling or	
1532	holding such election.	
1533	2.	The district may pledge its full faith and credit for	
1534	the payment of the principal and interest on such general	

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1535	obligation bonds and for any reserve funds provided therefor and	
1536	may unconditionally and irrevocably pledge itself to levy ad	
1537	valorem taxes on all taxable property in the district, to the	
1538	extent necessary for the payment thereof, without limitation as	
1539	to rate or amount.	
1540	3.	If the board determines to issue general obligation	
1541	bonds for more than one capital project, the approval of the	
1542	issuance of the bonds for each and all such projects may be	
1543	submitted to the electors on one and the same ballot. The	
1544	failure of the electors to approve the issuance of bonds for any	
1545	one or more capital projects shall not defeat the approval of	
1546	bonds for any capital project which has been approved by the	
1547	electors.	
1548	4.	In arriving at the amount of general obligation bonds	
1549	permitted to be outstanding at any one time pursuant to	
1550	subparagraph 1., there shall not be included any general	
1551	obligation bonds that are additionally secured by the pledge of:	
1552	a.	Any assessments levied in an amount sufficient to pay	
1553	the principal and interest on the general obligation bonds so	
1554	additionally secured, which assessments have been equalized and	
1555	confirmed by resolution of the board pursuant to this act or s.	
1556	170.08, Florida Statutes.	
1557	b.	Water revenues, sewer revenues, or water and sewer	
1558	revenues of the district to be derived from user fees in an	

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1559	amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the	
1560	general obligation bonds so additionally secured.	
1561	c.	Any combination of assessments and revenues described	
1562	in sub-subparagraphs a. and b.	
1563	(j)	Bonds as legal investment or security.—	
1564	1.	Notwithstanding any provisions of any other law to the	
1565	contrary, all bonds issued under the provisions of this act	
1566	shall constitute legal investments for savings banks, banks,	
1567	trust companies, insurance companies, executors, administrators,	
1568	trustees, guardians, and other fiduciaries and for any board,	
1569	body, agency, instrumentality, county, municipality, or other	
1570	political subdivision of the state and shall be and constitute	
1571	security which may be deposited by banks or trust companies as	
1572	security for deposits of state, county, municipal, or other	
1573	public funds or by insurance companies as required or voluntary	
1574	statutory deposits.	
1575	2.	Any bonds issued by the district shall be incontestable	
1576	in the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders for value and	
1577	shall not be invalid because of any irregularity or defect in	
1578	the proceedings for the issue and sale thereof.	
1579	(k)	Covenants.—Any resolution authorizing the issuance of	
1580	bonds may contain such covenants as the board may deem	
1581	advisable, and all such covenants shall constitute valid and	
1582	legally binding and enforceable contracts between the district	
1583	and the bondholders, regardless of the time of issuance thereof.	

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1584	Such covenants may include, without limitation, covenants	
1585	concerning the disposition of the bond proceeds; the use and	
1586	disposition of project revenues; the pledging of revenues,	
1587	taxes, and assessments; the obligations of the district with	
1588	respect to the operation of the project and the maintenance of	
1589	adequate project revenues; the issuance of additional bonds; the	
1590	appointment, powers, and duties of trustees and receivers; the	
1591	acquisition of outstanding bonds and obligations; restrictions	
1592	on the establishing of competing projects or facilities;	
1593	restrictions on the sale or disposal of the assets and property	
1594	of the district; the priority of assessment liens; the priority	
1595	of claims by bondholders on the taxing power of the district;	
1596	the maintenance of deposits to ensure the payment of revenues by	
1597	users of district facilities and services; the discontinuance of	
1598	district services by reason of delinquent payments; acceleration	
1599	upon default; the execution of necessary instruments; the	
1600	procedure for amending or abrogating covenants with the	
1601	bondholders; and such other covenants as may be deemed necessary	
1602	or desirable for the security of the bondholders.	
1603	(l)	Validation proceedings.—The power of the district to	
1604	issue bonds under the provisions of this act may be determined,	
1605	and any of the bonds of the district maturing over a period of	
1606	more than 5 years shall be validated and confirmed, by court	
1607	decree, under the provisions of chapter 75, Florida Statutes,	
1608	and laws amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.	

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1609	(m)	Tax exemption.—To the extent allowed by general law,	
1610	all bonds issued hereunder and interest paid thereon and all	
1611	fees, charges, and other revenues derived by the district from	
1612	the projects provided by this act are exempt from all taxes by	
1613	the state or by any political subdivision, agency, or	
1614	instrumentality thereof; however, any interest, income, or	
1615	profits on debt obligations issued hereunder are not exempt from	
1616	the tax imposed by chapter 220, Florida Statutes. Further, the	
1617	district is not exempt from the provisions of chapter 212,	
1618	Florida Statutes.	
1619	(n)	Application of s. 189.051, Florida Statutes.—Bonds	
1620	issued by the district shall meet the criteria set forth in s.	
1621	189.051, Florida Statutes.	
1622	(o)	Act furnishes full authority for issuance of bonds.—	
1623	This act constitutes full and complete authority for the	
1624	issuance of bonds and the exercise of the powers of the district	
1625	provided herein. No procedures or proceedings, publications,	
1626	notices, consents, approvals, orders, acts, or things by the	
1627	board, or any board, officer, commission, department, agency, or	
1628	instrumentality of the district, other than those required by	
1629	this act, shall be required to perform anything under this act,	
1630	except that the issuance or sale of bonds pursuant to the	
1631	provisions of this act shall comply with the general law	
1632	requirements applicable to the issuance or sale of bonds by the	
1633	district. Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize	

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1634	the district to utilize bond proceeds to fund the ongoing	
1635	operations of the district.	
1636	(p)	Pledge by the state to the bondholders of the	
1637	district.—The state pledges to the holders of any bonds issued	
1638	under this act that it will not limit or alter the rights of the	
1639	district to own, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve,	
1640	maintain, operate, or furnish the projects or to levy and	
1641	collect the taxes, assessments, rentals, rates, fees, and other	
1642	charges provided for herein and to fulfill the terms of any	
1643	agreement made with the holders of such bonds or other	
1644	obligations and that it will not in any way impair the rights or	
1645	remedies of such holders.	
1646	(q)	Default.—A default on the bonds or obligations of a	
1647	district shall not constitute a debt or obligation of the state	
1648	or any general-purpose local government or the state. In the	
1649	event of a default or dissolution of the district, no local	
1650	general-purpose government shall be required to assume the	
1651	property of the district, the debts of the district, or the	
1652	district's obligations to complete any infrastructure	
1653	improvements or provide any services to the district. The	
1654	provisions of s. 189.076(2), Florida Statutes, shall not apply	
1655	to the district.	
1656	(11)	TRUST AGREEMENTS.—Any issue of bonds shall be secured	
1657	by a trust agreement or resolution by and between the district	
1658	and a corporate trustee or trustees, which may be any trust	

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1659	company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or	
1660	without the state. The resolution authorizing the issuance of	
1661	the bonds or such trust agreement may pledge the revenues to be	
1662	received from any projects of the district and may contain such	
1663	provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies	
1664	of the bondholders as the board may approve, including, without	
1665	limitation, covenants setting forth the duties of the district	
1666	in relation to: the acquisition, construction, reconstruction,	
1667	improvement, maintenance, repair, operation, and insurance of	
1668	any projects; the fixing and revising of the rates, fees, and	
1669	charges; and the custody, safeguarding, and application of all	
1670	moneys and for the employment of consulting engineers in	
1671	connection with such acquisition, construction, reconstruction,	
1672	improvement, maintenance, repair, or operation. It shall be	
1673	lawful for any bank or trust company within or without the state	
1674	which may act as a depository of the proceeds of bonds or of	
1675	revenues to furnish such indemnifying bonds or to pledge such	
1676	securities as may be required by the district. Such resolution	
1677	or trust agreement may set forth the rights and remedies of the	
1678	bondholders and of the trustee, if any, and may restrict the	
1679	individual right of action by bondholders. The board may provide	
1680	for the payment of proceeds of the sale of the bonds and the	
1681	revenues of any project to such officer, board, or depository as	
1682	it may designate for the custody thereof and may provide for the	
1683	method of disbursement thereof with such safeguards and	

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1684	restrictions as it may determine. All expenses incurred in	
1685	carrying out the provisions of such resolution or trust	
1686	agreement may be treated as part of the cost of operation of the	
1687	project to which such trust agreement pertains.	
1688	(12)	AD VALOREM TAXES; ASSESSMENTS, BENEFIT SPECIAL	
1689	ASSESSMENTS, MAINTENANCE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SPECIAL	
1690	ASSESSMENTS; MAINTENANCE TAXES.—	
1691	(a)	Ad valorem taxes.—At such time as all members of the	
1692	board are qualified electors who are elected by qualified	
1693	electors of the district, the board shall have the power to levy	
1694	and assess an ad valorem tax on all the taxable property in the	
1695	district to construct, operate, and maintain assessable	
1696	improvements; to pay the principal of, and interest on, any	
1697	general obligation bonds of the district; and to provide for any	
1698	sinking or other funds established in connection with any such	
1699	bonds. An ad valorem tax levied by the board for operating	
1700	purposes, exclusive of debt service on bonds, shall not exceed 3	
1701	mills. The ad valorem tax provided for herein shall be in	
1702	addition to county and all other ad valorem taxes provided for	
1703	by law. Such tax shall be assessed, levied, and collected in the	
1704	same manner and at the same time as county taxes. The levy of ad	
1705	valorem taxes must be approved by referendum as required by	
1706	Section 9 of Article VII of the State Constitution.	
1707	(b)	Benefit special assessments.—The board annually shall	
1708	determine, order, and levy the annual installment of the total	

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1709	benefit special assessments for bonds issued and related	
1710	expenses to finance assessable improvements. These assessments	
1711	may be due and collected during each year county taxes are due	
1712	and collected, in which case such annual installment and levy	
1713	shall be evidenced to and certified to the property appraiser by	
1714	the board not later than August 31 of each year. Such assessment	
1715	shall be entered by the property appraiser on the county tax	
1716	rolls and shall be collected and enforced by the tax collector	
1717	in the same manner and at the same time as county taxes, and the	
1718	proceeds thereof shall be paid to the district. However, this	
1719	subsection shall not prohibit the district in its discretion	
1720	from using the method prescribed in either s. 197.3632 or	
1721	chapter 173, Florida Statutes, as each may be amended from time	
1722	to time, for collecting and enforcing these assessments. Each	
1723	annual installment of benefit special assessments shall be a	
1724	lien on the property against which assessed until paid and shall	
1725	be enforceable in like manner as county taxes. The amount of the	
1726	assessment for the exercise of the district's powers under	
1727	subsections (6) and (7) shall be determined by the board based	
1728	upon a report of the district's engineer and assessed by the	
1729	board upon such lands, which may be part or all of the lands	
1730	within the district benefited by the improvement, apportioned	
1731	between benefited lands in proportion to the benefits received	
1732	by each tract of land. The board may, if it determines it is in	
1733	the best interests of the district, set forth in the proceedings	

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1734	initially levying such benefit special assessments or in	
1735	subsequent proceedings a formula for the determination of an	
1736	amount, which when paid by a taxpayer with respect to any tax	
1737	parcel, shall constitute a prepayment of all future annual	
1738	installments of such benefit special assessments and that the	
1739	payment of which amount with respect to such tax parcel shall	
1740	relieve and discharge such tax parcel of the lien of such	
1741	benefit special assessments and any subsequent annual	
1742	installment thereof. The board may provide further that upon	
1743	delinquency in the payment of any annual installment of benefit	
1744	special assessments, the prepayment amount of all future annual	
1745	installments of benefit special assessments as determined in the	
1746	preceding sentence shall be and become immediately due and	
1747	payable together with such delinquent annual installment.	
1748	(c)	Non-ad valorem maintenance taxes.—If and when	
1749	authorized by general law, to maintain and to preserve the	
1750	physical facilities and services constituting the works,	
1751	improvements, or infrastructure owned by the district pursuant	
1752	to this act, to repair and restore any one or more of them, when	
1753	needed, and to defray the current expenses of the district,	
1754	including any sum which may be required to pay state and county	
1755	ad valorem taxes on any lands which may have been purchased and	
1756	which are held by the district under the provisions of this act,	
1757	the board of supervisors may, upon the completion of said	
1758	systems, facilities, services, works, improvements, or	

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1759	infrastructure, in whole or in part, as may be certified to the	
1760	board by the engineer of the board, levy annually a non-ad	
1761	valorem and nonmillage tax upon each tract or parcel of land	
1762	within the district, to be known as a "maintenance tax." This	
1763	non-ad valorem maintenance tax shall be apportioned upon the	
1764	basis of the net assessments of benefits assessed as accruing	
1765	from the original construction and shall be evidenced to and	
1766	certified by the board of supervisors of the district not later	
1767	than June 1 of each year to the Osceola County tax collector and	
1768	shall be extended on the tax rolls and collected by the tax	
1769	collector on the merged collection roll of the tax collector in	
1770	the same manner and at the same time as county ad valorem taxes,	
1771	and the proceeds therefrom shall be paid to the district. This	
1772	non-ad valorem maintenance tax shall be a lien until paid on the	
1773	property against which assessed and enforceable in like manner	
1774	and of the same dignity as county ad valorem taxes.	
1775	(d)	Maintenance special assessments.—To maintain and	
1776	preserve the facilities and projects of the district, the board	
1777	may levy a maintenance special assessment. This assessment may	
1778	be evidenced to and certified to the tax collector by the board	
1779	of supervisors not later than August 31 of each year and shall	
1780	be entered by the property appraiser on the county tax rolls and	
1781	shall be collected and enforced by the tax collector in the same	
1782	manner and at the same time as county taxes, and the proceeds	
1783	therefrom shall be paid to the district. However, this	

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1784	subsection shall not prohibit the district in its discretion	
1785	from using the method prescribed in s. 197.363, s. 197.3631, or	
1786	s. 197.3632, Florida Statutes, for collecting and enforcing	
1787	these assessments. These maintenance special assessments shall	
1788	be a lien on the property against which assessed until paid and	
1789	shall be enforceable in like manner as county taxes. The amount	
1790	of the maintenance special assessment for the exercise of the	
1791	district's powers under this section shall be determined by the	
1792	board based upon a report of the district's engineer and	
1793	assessed by the board upon such lands, which may be all of the	
1794	lands within the district benefited by the maintenance thereof,	
1795	apportioned between the benefited lands in proportion to the	
1796	benefits received by each tract of land.	
1797	(e)	Special assessments.—The board may levy and impose any	
1798	special assessments pursuant to this subsection.	
1799	(f)	Enforcement of taxes.—The collection and enforcement	
1800	of all taxes levied by the district shall be at the same time	
1801	and in like manner as county taxes, and the provisions of the	
1802	laws of Florida relating to the sale of lands for unpaid and	
1803	delinquent county taxes; the issuance, sale, and delivery of tax	
1804	certificates for such unpaid and delinquent county taxes; the	
1805	redemption thereof; the issuance to individuals of tax deeds	
1806	based thereon; and all other procedures in connection therewith	
1807	shall be applicable to the district to the same extent as if	

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1808	such statutory provisions were expressly set forth herein. All	
1809	taxes shall be subject to the same discounts as county taxes.	
1810	(g)	When unpaid tax is delinquent; penalty.—All taxes	
1811	provided for in this act shall become delinquent and bear	
1812	penalties on the amount of such taxes in the same manner as	
1813	county taxes.	
1814	(h)	Status of assessments.—Benefit special assessments,	
1815	maintenance special assessments, and special assessments are	
1816	hereby found and determined to be non-ad valorem assessments as	
1817	defined by s. 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Maintenance taxes are	
1818	non-ad valorem taxes and are not special assessments.	
1819	(i)	Assessments constitute liens; collection.—Any and all	
1820	assessments, including special assessments, benefit special	
1821	assessments, and maintenance special assessments authorized by	
1822	this section, and including special assessments as defined by	
1823	section 2(2)(z) and granted and authorized by this subsection,	
1824	and including maintenance taxes if authorized by general law,	
1825	shall constitute a lien on the property against which assessed	
1826	from the date of levy and imposition thereof until paid, coequal	
1827	with the lien of state, county, municipal, and school board	
1828	taxes. These assessments may be collected, at the district's	
1829	discretion, under authority of s. 197.3631, Florida Statutes, as	
1830	amended from time to time, by the tax collector pursuant to the	
1831	provisions of ss. 197.3632 and 197.3635, Florida Statutes, as	
1832	amended from time to time, or in accordance with other	

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1833	collection measures provided by law. In addition to, and not in	
1834	limitation of, any powers otherwise set forth herein or in	
1835	general law, these assessments may also be enforced pursuant to	
1836	the provisions of chapter 173, Florida Statutes, as amended from	
1837	time to time.	
1838	(j)	Land owned by governmental entity.—Except as otherwise	
1839	provided by law, no levy of ad valorem taxes or non-ad valorem	
1840	assessments under this act or chapter 170 or chapter 197,	
1841	Florida Statutes, as each may be amended from time to time, or	
1842	otherwise, by a board of the district, on property of a	
1843	governmental entity that is subject to a ground lease as	
1844	described in s. 190.003(14), Florida Statutes, shall constitute	
1845	a lien or encumbrance on the underlying fee interest of such	
1846	governmental entity.	
1847	(13)	SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.—	
1848	(a)	As an alternative method to the levy and imposition of	
1849	special assessments pursuant to chapter 170, Florida Statutes,	
1850	pursuant to the authority of s. 197.3631, Florida Statutes, or	
1851	pursuant to other provisions of general law, now or hereafter	
1852	enacted, which provide a supplemental means or authority to	
1853	impose, levy, and collect special assessments as otherwise	
1854	authorized under this act, the board may levy and impose special	
1855	assessments to finance the exercise of any of its powers	
1856	permitted under this act using the following uniform procedures:	

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1857	1.	At a noticed meeting, the board of supervisors of the	
1858	district may consider and review an engineer's report on the	
1859	costs of the systems, facilities, and services to be provided, a	
1860	preliminary special assessment methodology, and a preliminary	
1861	roll based on acreage or platted lands, depending upon whether	
1862	platting has occurred.	
1863	a.	The special assessment methodology shall address and	
1864	discuss and the board shall consider whether the systems,	
1865	facilities, and services being contemplated will result in	
1866	special benefits peculiar to the property, different in kind and	
1867	degree than general benefits, as a logical connection between	
1868	the systems, facilities, and services themselves and the	
1869	property, and whether the duty to pay the special assessments by	
1870	the property owners is apportioned in a manner that is fair and	
1871	equitable and not in excess of the special benefit received. It	
1872	shall be fair and equitable to designate a fixed proportion of	
1873	the annual debt service, together with interest thereon, on the	
1874	aggregate principal amount of bonds issued to finance such	
1875	systems, facilities, and services which give rise to unique,	
1876	special, and peculiar benefits to property of the same or	
1877	similar characteristics under the special assessment methodology	
1878	so long as such fixed proportion does not exceed the unique,	
1879	special, and peculiar benefits enjoyed by such property from	
1880	such systems, facilities, and services.	

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1881	b.	The engineer's cost report shall identify the nature of	
1882	the proposed systems, facilities, and services, their location,	
1883	a cost breakdown plus a total estimated cost, including cost of	
1884	construction or reconstruction, labor, and materials, lands,	
1885	property, rights, easements, franchises, or systems, facilities,	
1886	and services to be acquired, cost of plans and specifications,	
1887	surveys of estimates of costs and revenues, costs of	
1888	engineering, legal, and other professional consultation	
1889	services, and other expenses or costs necessary or incident to	
1890	determining the feasibility or practicability of such	
1891	construction, reconstruction, or acquisition, administrative	
1892	expenses, relationship to the authority and power of the	
1893	district in its charter, and such other expenses or costs as may	
1894	be necessary or incident to the financing to be authorized by	
1895	the board of supervisors.	
1896	c.	The preliminary special assessment roll will be in	
1897	accordance with the assessment methodology as may be adopted by	
1898	the board of supervisors; the special assessment roll shall be	
1899	completed as promptly as possible and shall show the acreage,	
1900	lots, lands, or plats assessed and the amount of the fairly and	
1901	reasonably apportioned assessment based on special and peculiar	
1902	benefit to the property, lot, parcel, or acreage of land; and,	
1903	if the special assessment against such lot, parcel, acreage, or	
1904	portion of land is to be paid in installments, the number of	
1905	annual installments in which the special assessment is divided	

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1906	shall be entered into and shown upon the special assessment	
1907	roll.	
1908	2.	The board of supervisors of the district may determine	
1909	and declare by an initial special assessment resolution to levy	
1910	and assess the special assessments with respect to assessable	
1911	improvements stating the nature of the systems, facilities, and	
1912	services, improvements, projects, or infrastructure constituting	
1913	such assessable improvements, the information in the engineer's	
1914	cost report, the information in the special assessment	
1915	methodology as determined by the board at the noticed meeting	
1916	and referencing and incorporating as part of the resolution the	
1917	engineer's cost report, the preliminary special assessment	
1918	methodology, and the preliminary special assessment roll as	
1919	referenced exhibits to the resolution by reference. If the board	
1920	determines to declare and levy the special assessments by the	
1921	initial special assessment resolution, the board shall also	
1922	adopt and declare a notice resolution which shall provide and	
1923	cause the initial special assessment resolution to be published	
1924	once a week for a period of 2 weeks in newspapers of general	
1925	circulation published in Osceola County and said board shall by	
1926	the same resolution fix a time and place at which the owner or	
1927	owners of the property to be assessed or any other persons	
1928	interested therein may appear before said board and be heard as	
1929	to the propriety and advisability of making such improvements,	
1930	as to the costs thereof, as to the manner of payment therefor,	

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1931	and as to the amount thereof to be assessed against each	
1932	property so improved. Thirty days' notice in writing of such	
1933	time and place shall be given to such property owners. The	
1934	notice shall include the amount of the special assessment and	
1935	shall be served by mailing a copy to each assessed property	
1936	owner at his or her last known address, the names and addresses	
1937	of such property owners to be obtained from the record of the	
1938	property appraiser of the county political subdivision in which	
1939	the land is located or from such other sources as the district	
1940	manager or engineer deems reliable, and proof of such mailing	
1941	shall be made by the affidavit of the manager of the district or	
1942	by the engineer, said proof to be filed with the district	
1943	manager, provided that failure to mail said notice or notices	
1944	shall not invalidate any of the proceedings hereunder. It is	
1945	provided further that the last publication shall be at least 1	
1946	week prior to the date of the hearing on the final special	
1947	assessment resolution. Said notice shall describe the general	
1948	areas to be improved and advise all persons interested that the	
1949	description of each property to be assessed and the amount to be	
1950	assessed to each piece, parcel, lot, or acre of property may be	
1951	ascertained at the office of the manager of the district. Such	
1952	service by publication shall be verified by the affidavit of the	
1953	publisher and filed with the manager of the district. Moreover,	
1954	the initial special assessment resolution with its attached,	
1955	referenced, and incorporated engineer's cost report, preliminary	

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1956	special assessment methodology, and preliminary special	
1957	assessment roll, along with the notice resolution, shall be	
1958	available for public inspection at the office of the manager and	
1959	the office of the engineer or any other office designated by the	
1960	board of supervisors in the notice resolution. Notwithstanding	
1961	the foregoing, the landowners of all of the property which is	
1962	proposed to be assessed may give the district written notice of	
1963	waiver of any notice and publication provided for in this	
1964	subparagraph and such notice and publication shall not be	
1965	required, provided, however, that any meeting of the board of	
1966	supervisors to consider such resolution shall be a publicly	
1967	noticed meeting.	
1968	3.	At the time and place named in the noticed resolution	
1969	as provided for in subparagraph 2., the board of supervisors of	
1970	the district shall meet and hear testimony from affected	
1971	property owners as to the propriety and advisability of making	
1972	the systems, facilities, services, projects, works,	
1973	improvements, or infrastructure and funding them with	
1974	assessments referenced in the initial special assessment	
1975	resolution on the property. Following the testimony and	
1976	questions from the members of the board or any professional	
1977	advisors to the district of the preparers of the engineer's cost	
1978	report, the special assessment methodology, and the special	
1979	assessment roll, the board of supervisors shall make a final	
1980	decision on whether to levy and assess the particular special	

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1981	assessments. Thereafter, the board of supervisors shall meet as	
1982	an equalizing board to hear and to consider any and all	
1983	complaints as to the particular special assessments and shall	
1984	adjust and equalize the special assessments to ensure proper	
1985	assessment based on the benefit conferred on the property.	
1986	4.	When so equalized and approved by resolution or	
1987	ordinance by the board of supervisors, to be called the final	
1988	special assessment resolution, a final special assessment roll	
1989	shall be filed with the clerk of the board and such special	
1990	assessment shall stand confirmed and remain legal, valid, and	
1991	binding first liens on the property against which such special	
1992	assessments are made until paid, equal in dignity to the first	
1993	liens of ad valorem taxation of county and municipal governments	
1994	and school boards. However, upon completion of the systems,	
1995	facilities, service, project, improvement, works, or	
1996	infrastructure, the district shall credit to each of the	
1997	assessments the difference in the special assessment as	
1998	originally made, approved, levied, assessed, and confirmed and	
1999	the proportionate part of the actual cost of the improvement to	
2000	be paid by the particular special assessments as finally	
2001	determined upon the completion of the improvement; but in no	
2002	event shall the final special assessment exceed the amount of	
2003	the special and peculiar benefits as apportioned fairly and	
2004	reasonably to the property from the system, facility, or service	
2005	being provided as originally assessed. Promptly after such	

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2006	confirmation, the special assessment shall be recorded by the	
2007	clerk of the district in the minutes of the proceedings of the	
2008	district, and the record of the lien in this set of minutes	
2009	shall constitute prima facie evidence of its validity. The board	
2010	of supervisors, in its sole discretion, may, by resolution grant	
2011	a discount equal to all or a part of the payee's proportionate	
2012	share of the cost of the project consisting of bond financing	
2013	cost, such as capitalized interest, funded reserves, and bond	
2014	discounts included in the estimated cost of the project, upon	
2015	payment in full of any special assessments during such period	
2016	prior to the time such financing costs are incurred as may be	
2017	specified by the board of supervisors in such resolution.	
2018	5.	District special assessments may be made payable in	
2019	installments over no more than 40 years from the date of the	
2020	payment of the first installment thereof and may bear interest	
2021	at fixed or variable rates.	
2022	(b)	Notwithstanding any provision of this act or chapter	
2023	170, Florida Statutes, that portion of s. 170.09, Florida	
2024	Statutes, that provides that special assessments may be paid	
2025	without interest at any time within 30 days after the	
2026	improvement is completed and a resolution accepting the same has	
2027	been adopted by the governing authority shall not be applicable	
2028	to any district special assessments, whether imposed, levied,	
2029	and collected pursuant to the provisions of this act or other	

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2030	provisions of Florida law, including, but not limited to,	
2031	chapter 170, Florida Statutes.	
2032	(c)	In addition, the district is authorized expressly in	
2033	the exercise of its rulemaking power to adopt a rule or rules	
2034	which provides or provide for notice, levy, imposition,	
2035	equalization, and collection of assessments.	
2036	(14)	ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS BASED ON	
2037	ASSESSMENTS FOR ASSESSABLE IMPROVEMENTS; ASSESSMENT BONDS.—	
2038	(a)	The board may, after any special assessments or	
2039	benefit special assessments for assessable improvements are	
2040	made, determined, and confirmed as provided in this act, issue	
2041	certificates of indebtedness for the amount so assessed against	
2042	the abutting property or property otherwise benefited, as the	
2043	case may be, and separate certificates shall be issued against	
2044	each part or parcel of land or property assessed, which	
2045	certificates shall state the general nature of the improvement	
2046	for which the assessment is made. The certificates shall be	
2047	payable in annual installments in accordance with the	
2048	installments of the special assessment for which they are	
2049	issued. The board may determine the interest to be borne by such	
2050	certificates, not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by general	
2051	law, and may sell such certificates at either private or public	
2052	sale and determine the form, manner of execution, and other	
2053	details of such certificates. The certificates shall recite that	
2054	they are payable only from the special assessments levied and	

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2055	collected from the part or parcel of land or property against	
2056	which they are issued. The proceeds of such certificates may be	
2057	pledged for the payment of principal of and interest on any	
2058	revenue bonds or general obligation bonds issued to finance in	
2059	whole or in part such assessable improvement, or, if not so	
2060	pledged, may be used to pay the cost or part of the cost of such	
2061	assessable improvements.	
2062	(b)	The district may also issue assessment bonds, revenue	
2063	bonds, or other obligations payable from a special fund into	
2064	which such certificates of indebtedness referred to in paragraph	
2065	(a) may be deposited or, if such certificates of indebtedness	
2066	have not been issued, the district may assign to such special	
2067	fund for the benefit of the holders of such assessment bonds or	
2068	other obligations, or to a trustee for such bondholders, the	
2069	assessment liens provided for in this act unless such	
2070	certificates of indebtedness or assessment liens have been	
2071	theretofore pledged for any bonds or other obligations	
2072	authorized hereunder. In the event of the creation of such	
2073	special fund and the issuance of such assessment bonds or other	
2074	obligations, the proceeds of such certificates of indebtedness	
2075	or assessment liens deposited therein shall be used only for the	
2076	payment of the assessment bonds or other obligations issued as	
2077	provided in this section. The district is authorized to covenant	
2078	with the holders of such assessment bonds, revenue bonds, or	
2079	other obligations that it will diligently and faithfully enforce	

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2080	and collect all the special assessments, and interest and	
2081	penalties thereon, for which such certificates of indebtedness	
2082	or assessment liens have been deposited in or assigned to such	
2083	fund; to foreclose such assessment liens so assigned to such	
2084	special fund or represented by the certificates of indebtedness	
2085	deposited in the special fund, after such assessment liens have	
2086	become delinquent, and deposit the proceeds derived from such	
2087	foreclosure, including interest and penalties, in such special	
2088	fund; and to make any other covenants deemed necessary or	
2089	advisable in order to properly secure the holders of such	
2090	assessment bonds or other obligations.	
2091	(c)	The assessment bonds, revenue bonds, or other	
2092	obligations issued pursuant to this section shall have such	
2093	dates of issue and maturity as shall be deemed advisable by the	
2094	board; however, the maturities of such assessment bonds or other	
2095	obligations shall not be more than 2 years after the due date of	
2096	the last installment which will be payable on any of the special	
2097	assessments for which such assessment liens, or the certificates	
2098	of indebtedness representing such assessment liens, are assigned	
2099	to or deposited in such special fund.	
2100	(d)	Such assessment bonds, revenue bonds, or other	
2101	obligations issued under this section shall bear such interest	
2102	as the board may determine, not to exceed the maximum rate	
2103	allowed by general law, and shall be executed, shall have such	
2104	provisions for redemption prior to maturity, shall be sold in	

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2105	the manner, and shall be subject to all of the applicable	
2106	provisions contained in this act for revenue bonds, except as	
2107	the same may be inconsistent with the provisions of this	
2108	section.	
2109	(e)	All assessment bonds, revenue bonds, or other	
2110	obligations issued under the provisions of this section shall	
2111	be, shall constitute, and shall have all the qualities and	
2112	incidents of negotiable instruments under the law merchant and	
2113	the laws of the state.	
2114	(15)	TAX LIENS.—All taxes of the district provided for in	
2115	this act, together with all penalties for default in the payment	
2116	of the same and all costs in collecting the same, including a	
2117	reasonable attorney fee fixed by the court and taxed as a cost	
2118	in the action brought to enforce payment, shall, from January 1	
2119	for each year the property is liable to assessment and until	
2120	paid, constitute a lien of equal dignity with the liens for	
2121	state and county taxes and other taxes of equal dignity with	
2122	state and county taxes upon all the lands against which such	
2123	taxes shall be levied. A sale of any of the real property within	
2124	the district for state and county or other taxes shall not	
2125	operate to relieve or release the property so sold from the lien	
2126	for subsequent district taxes or installments of district taxes,	
2127	which lien may be enforced against such property as though no	
2128	such sale thereof had been made. In addition to, and not in	
2129	limitation of, the preceding sentence, for purposes of s.	

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2130	197.552, Florida Statutes, the lien of all special assessments	
2131	levied by the district shall constitute a lien of record held by	
2132	a municipal or county governmental unit. The provisions of ss.	
2133	194.171, 197.122, 197.333, and 197.432, Florida Statutes, shall	
2134	be applicable to district taxes with the same force and effect	
2135	as if such provisions were expressly set forth in this act.	
2136	(16)	PAYMENT OF TAXES AND REDEMPTION OF TAX LIENS BY THE	
2137	DISTRICT; SHARING IN PROCEEDS OF TAX SALE.—	
2138	(a)	The district shall have the power and right to:	
2139	1.	Pay any delinquent state, county, district, municipal,	
2140	or other tax or assessment upon lands located wholly or	
2141	partially within the boundaries of the district.	
2142	2.	Redeem or purchase any tax sales certificates issued or	
2143	sold on account of any state, county, district, municipal, or	
2144	other taxes or assessments upon lands located wholly or	
2145	partially within the boundaries of the district.	
2146	(b)	Delinquent taxes paid, or tax sales certificates	
2147	redeemed or purchased, by the district, together with all	
2148	penalties for the default in payment of the same and all costs	
2149	in collecting the same and a reasonable attorney fee, shall	
2150	constitute a lien in favor of the district of equal dignity with	
2151	the liens of state and county taxes and other taxes of equal	
2152	dignity with state and county taxes upon all the real property	
2153	against which the taxes were levied. The lien of the district	
2154	may be foreclosed in the manner provided in this act.	

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2155	(c)	In any sale of land pursuant to s. 197.542, Florida	
2156	Statutes, as may be amended from time to time, the district may	
2157	certify to the clerk of the circuit court of the county holding	
2158	such sale the amount of taxes due to the district upon the lands	
2159	sought to be sold, and the district shall share in the	
2160	disbursement of the sales proceeds in accordance with the	
2161	provisions of this act and under the laws of the state.	
2162	(17)	FORECLOSURE OF LIENS.—Any lien in favor of the	
2163	district arising under this act may be foreclosed by the	
2164	district by foreclosure proceedings in the name of the district	
2165	in a court of competent jurisdiction as provided by general law	
2166	in like manner as is provided in chapter 170 or chapter 173,	
2167	Florida Statutes, and amendments thereto and the provisions of	
2168	those chapters shall be applicable to such proceedings with the	
2169	same force and effect as if those provisions were expressly set	
2170	forth in this act. Any act required or authorized to be done by	
2171	or on behalf of a municipality in foreclosure proceedings under	
2172	chapter 170 or chapter 173, Florida Statutes, may be performed	
2173	by such officer or agent of the district as the board of	
2174	supervisors may designate. Such foreclosure proceedings may be	
2175	brought at any time after the expiration of 1 year from the date	
2176	any tax, or installment thereof, becomes delinquent; however, no	
2177	lien shall be foreclosed against any political subdivision or	
2178	agency of the state. Other legal remedies shall remain	
2179	available.	

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2180	(18)	MANDATORY USE OF CERTAIN DISTRICT SYSTEMS,	
2181	FACILITIES, AND SERVICES.—To the full extent permitted by law,	
2182	the district shall require all lands, buildings, premises,	
2183	persons, firms, and corporations within the district to use the	
2184	facilities of the district.	
2185	(19)	COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT; BIDS; NEGOTIATIONS; RELATED	
2186	PROVISIONS REQUIRED.—	
2187	(a)	No contract shall be let by the board for any goods,	
2188	supplies, or materials to be purchased when the amount thereof	
2189	to be paid by the district shall exceed the amount provided in	
2190	s. 287.017, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time, for	
2191	category four, unless notice of bids shall be advertised once in	
2192	a newspaper in general circulation in Osceola County. Any board	
2193	seeking to construct or improve a public building, structure, or	
2194	other public works shall comply with the bidding procedures of	
2195	s. 255.20, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time, and	
2196	other applicable general law. In each case, the bid of the	
2197	lowest responsive and responsible bidder shall be accepted	
2198	unless all bids are rejected because the bids are too high or	
2199	the board determines it is in the best interests of the district	
2200	to reject all bids. The board may require the bidders to furnish	
2201	bond with a responsible surety to be approved by the board.	
2202	Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the board from	
2203	undertaking and performing the construction, operation, and	

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2204	maintenance of any project or facility authorized by this act by	
2205	the employment of labor, material, and machinery.	
2206	(b)	The provisions of the Consultants' Competitive	
2207	Negotiation Act, s. 287.055, Florida Statutes, apply to	
2208	contracts for engineering, architecture, landscape architecture,	
2209	or registered surveying and mapping services let by the board.	
2210	(c)	Contracts for maintenance services for any district	
2211	facility or project shall be subject to competitive bidding	
2212	requirements when the amount thereof to be paid by the district	
2213	exceeds the amount provided in s. 287.017, Florida Statutes, as	
2214	amended from time to time, for category four. The district shall	
2215	adopt rules, policies, or procedures establishing competitive	
2216	bidding procedures for maintenance services. Contracts for other	
2217	services shall not be subject to competitive bidding unless the	
2218	district adopts a rule, policy, or procedure applying	
2219	competitive bidding procedures to said contracts. Nothing herein	
2220	shall preclude the use of requests for proposal instead of	
2221	invitations to bid as determined by the district to be in its	
2222	best interest.	
2223	(20)	FEES, RENTALS, AND CHARGES; PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION	
2224	AND MODIFICATIONS; MINIMUM REVENUE REQUIREMENTS.—	
2225	(a)	The district is authorized to prescribe, fix,	
2226	establish, and collect rates, fees, rentals, or other charges,	
2227	hereinafter sometimes referred to as "revenues," and to revise	
2228	the same from time to time, for the systems, facilities, and	

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2229	services furnished by the district, within the limits of the	
2230	district, including, but not limited to, recreational	
2231	facilities, water management and control facilities, and water	
2232	and sewer systems; to recover the costs of making connection	
2233	with any district service, facility, or system; and to provide	
2234	for reasonable penalties against any user or property for any	
2235	such rates, fees, rentals, or other charges that are delinquent.	
2236	(b)	No such rates, fees, rentals, or other charges for any	
2237	of the facilities or services of the district shall be fixed	
2238	until after a public hearing at which all the users of the	
2239	proposed facility or services or owners, tenants, or occupants	
2240	served or to be served thereby and all other interested persons	
2241	shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed	
2242	rates, fees, rentals, or other charges. Rates, fees, rentals,	
2243	and other charges shall be adopted under the administrative	
2244	rulemaking authority of the district, but shall not apply to	
2245	district leases. Notice of such public hearing setting forth the	
2246	proposed schedule or schedules of rates, fees, rentals, and	
2247	other charges shall have been published in a newspaper of	
2248	general circulation in Osceola County at least once and at least	
2249	10 days prior to such public hearing. The rulemaking hearing may	
2250	be adjourned from time to time. After such hearing, such	
2251	schedule or schedules, either as initially proposed or as	
2252	modified or amended, may be finally adopted. A copy of the	
2253	schedule or schedules of such rates, fees, rentals, or charges	

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2254	as finally adopted shall be kept on file in an office designated	
2255	by the board and shall be open at all reasonable times to public	
2256	inspection. The rates, fees, rentals, or charges so fixed for	
2257	any class of users or property served shall be extended to cover	
2258	any additional users or properties thereafter served which shall	
2259	fall in the same class, without the necessity of any notice or	
2260	hearing.	
2261	(c)	Such rates, fees, rentals, and charges shall be just	
2262	and equitable and uniform for users of the same class, and when	
2263	appropriate may be based or computed either upon the amount of	
2264	service furnished, upon the average number of persons residing	
2265	or working in or otherwise occupying the premises served, or	
2266	upon any other factor affecting the use of the facilities	
2267	furnished, or upon any combination of the foregoing factors, as	
2268	may be determined by the board on an equitable basis.	
2269	(d)	The rates, fees, rentals, or other charges prescribed	
2270	shall be such as will produce revenues, together with any other	
2271	assessments, taxes, revenues, or funds available or pledged for	
2272	such purpose, at least sufficient to provide for the items	
2273	hereinafter listed, but not necessarily in the order stated:	
2274	1.	To provide for all expenses of operation and	
2275	maintenance of such facility or service.	
2276	2.	To pay when due all bonds and interest thereon for the	
2277	payment of which such revenues are, or shall have been, pledged	
2278	or encumbered, including reserves for such purpose.	

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2279	3.	To provide for any other funds which may be required	
2280	under the resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of	
2281	bonds pursuant to this act.	
2282	(e)	The board shall have the power to enter into contracts	
2283	for the use of the projects of the district and with respect to	
2284	the services, systems, and facilities furnished or to be	
2285	furnished by the district.	
2286	(21)	RECOVERY OF DELINQUENT CHARGES.—In the event that any	
2287	rates, fees, rentals, charges, or delinquent penalties shall not	
2288	be paid as and when due and shall be in default for 60 days or	
2289	more, the unpaid balance thereof and all interest accrued	
2290	thereon, together with reasonable attorney fees and costs, may	
2291	be recovered by the district in a civil action.	
2292	(22)	DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE.—In the event the fees,	
2293	rentals, or other charges for district services or facilities	
2294	are not paid when due, the board shall have the power, under	
2295	such reasonable rules and regulations as the board may adopt, to	
2296	discontinue and shut off such services until such fees, rentals,	
2297	or other charges, including interest, penalties, and charges for	
2298	the shutting off and discontinuance and the restoration of such	
2299	services, are fully paid; and, for such purposes, the board may	
2300	enter on any lands, waters, or premises of any person, firm,	
2301	corporation, or body, public or private, within the district	
2302	limits. Such delinquent fees, rentals, or other charges,	
2303	together with interest, penalties, and charges for the shutting	

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2304	off and discontinuance and the restoration of such services and	
2305	facilities and reasonable attorney fees and other expenses, may	
2306	be recovered by the district, which may also enforce payment of	
2307	such delinquent fees, rentals, or other charges by any other	
2308	lawful method of enforcement.	
2309	(23)	ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES.—The board or any aggrieved	
2310	person may have recourse to such remedies in law and at equity	
2311	as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of	
2312	this act, including injunctive relief to enjoin or restrain any	
2313	person violating the provisions of this act or any bylaws,	
2314	resolutions, regulations, rules, codes, or orders adopted under	
2315	this act. In case any building or structure is erected,	
2316	constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or	
2317	maintained, or any building, structure, land, or water is used,	
2318	in violation of this act or of any code, order, resolution, or	
2319	other regulation made under authority conferred by this act or	
2320	under law, the board or any citizen residing in the district may	
2321	institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent such	
2322	unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration,	
2323	repair, conversion, maintenance, or use; to restrain, correct,	
2324	or avoid such violation; to prevent the occupancy of such	
2325	building, structure, land, or water; and to prevent any illegal	
2326	act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises, land,	
2327	or water.	

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2328	(24)	SUITS AGAINST THE DISTRICT.—Any suit or action	
2329	brought or maintained against the district for damages arising	
2330	out of tort, including, without limitation, any claim arising	
2331	upon account of an act causing an injury or loss of property,	
2332	personal injury, or death, shall be subject to the limitations	
2333	provided in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes.	
2334	(25)	EXEMPTION OF DISTRICT PROPERTY FROM EXECUTION.—All	
2335	district property shall be exempt from levy and sale by virtue	
2336	of an execution, and no execution or other judicial process	
2337	shall issue against such property, nor shall any judgment	
2338	against the district be a charge or lien on its property or	
2339	revenues; however, nothing contained herein shall apply to or	
2340	limit the rights of bondholders to pursue any remedy for the	
2341	enforcement of any lien or pledge given by the district in	
2342	connection with any of the bonds or obligations of the district.	
2343	(26)	TERMINATION, CONTRACTION, OR EXPANSION OF DISTRICT.—	
2344	(a)	The board of supervisors of the district shall not ask	
2345	the Legislature to repeal or amend this act to expand or to	
2346	contract the boundaries of the district or otherwise cause the	
2347	merger or termination of the district without first obtaining a	
2348	resolution or official statement from the Tohopekaliga Water	
2349	Authority and Osceola County as required by s. 189.031(2)(e)4.,	
2350	Florida Statutes, for creation of an independent special	
2351	district.	
2352	(b)	The district shall remain in existence until:	

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2353	1.	The district is terminated and dissolved pursuant to	
2354	amendment to this act by the Legislature.	
2355	2.	The district has become inactive pursuant to s.	
2356	189.062, Florida Statutes.	
2357	(27)	INCLUSION OF TERRITORY.—	
2358	(a)	The inclusion of any or all territory of the district	
2359	within a municipality does not change, alter, or affect the	
2360	boundary, territory, existence, or jurisdiction of the district.	
2361	(b)	The creation and establishment of the district shall	
2362	not impair or alter the authority, power, obligations, or	
2363	purpose of the Tohopekaliga Water Authority or its successors in	
2364	providing water or wastewater services and facilities under the	
2365	Tohopekaliga Water Authority Act.	
2366	(c)	The creation and establishment of the district shall	
2367	not impair or alter the authority, power, obligations, or	
2368	purpose of East Central Florida Services, Inc., to provide water	
2369	services or facilities pursuant to its Florida Public Service	
2370	Commission issued certificate of service.	
2371	(28)	SALE OF REAL ESTATE WITHIN THE DISTRICT; REQUIRED	
2372	DISCLOSURE TO PURCHASER.—Subsequent to the creation of this	
2373	district under this act, each contract for the initial sale of a	
2374	parcel of real property and each contract for the initial sale	
2375	of a residential unit within the district shall include,	
2376	immediately prior to the space reserved in the contract for the	
2377	signature of the purchaser, the following disclosure statement	

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2378	in boldfaced and conspicuous type which is larger than the type	
2379	in the remaining text of the contract: "THE SUNBRIDGE	
2380	STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT MAY IMPOSE AND LEVY TAXES OR ASSESSMENTS,	
2381	OR BOTH TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS, ON THIS PROPERTY. THESE TAXES AND	
2382	ASSESSMENTS PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE	
2383	COSTS OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SYSTEMS, FACILITIES, AND SERVICES OF THE	
2384	DISTRICT AND ARE SET ANNUALLY BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE	
2385	DISTRICT. THESE TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO COUNTY	
2386	AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS AND ALL OTHER	
2387	TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS PROVIDED FOR BY LAW."	
2388	(29)	NOTICE OF CREATION AND ESTABLISHMENT.—Within 30 days	
2389	after the election of the first board of supervisors creating	
2390	this district, the district shall cause to be recorded in the	
2391	grantor-grantee index of the property records in Osceola County	
2392	a "Notice of Creation and Establishment of the Sunbridge	
2393	Stewardship District." The notice shall, at a minimum, include	
2394	the legal description of the property covered by this act.	
2395	(30)	DISTRICT PROPERTY PUBLIC; FEES.—Any system, facility,	
2396	service, works, improvement, project, or other infrastructure	
2397	owned by the district, or funded by federal tax exempt bonding	
2398	issued by the district, is public; and the district by rule may	
2399	regulate, and may impose reasonable charges or fees for, the use	
2400	thereof, but not to the extent that such regulation or	
2401	imposition of such charges or fees constitutes denial of	
2402	reasonable access.	

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2403	Section 7.	This act being for the purpose of developing	
2404	and promoting the public good and welfare of Osceola County, the	
2405	territory included in the district, and the service area	
2406	authorized to be served by the Tohopekaliga Water Authority, and	
2407	the citizens, inhabitants, ratepayers, and taxpayers residing	
2408	therein, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes of	
2409	the act as consistent with, cumulative, and supplemental to the	
2410	powers of the county and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority.	
2411	Section 8.	If any provision of this act is determined	
2412	unconstitutional or otherwise determined invalid by a court of	
2413	law, all the rest and remainder of the act shall remain in full	
2414	force and effect as the law of this state.	
2415	Section 9.	This act shall take effect upon becoming a law	
2416	except that the provisions of this act which authorize the levy	
2417	of ad valorem taxation shall take effect only upon express	
2418	approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors of the	
2419	Sunbridge Stewardship District, as required by Section 9 of	
2420	Article VII of the State Constitution, voting in a referendum	
2421	election held at such time as all members of the board are	
2422	qualified electors who are elected by qualified electors of the	
2423	district as provided in this act.