153.01 – Short title.

153.01 Short title.—This part shall be known and may be cited as the “County Water System and Sanitary Sewer Financing Law.” History.—s. 1, ch. 29837, 1955.

153.02 – Definitions.

153.02 Definitions.—As used in this part the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some other meaning is plainly indicated: (1) The word “county” shall mean any of the several counties of the state operating under the authority granted by this chapter. (2) The term “county commission” or the word “commission” shall mean the board […]

153.03 – General grant of power.

153.03 General grant of power.—Any of the several counties of the state which may hereafter come under the provisions of this chapter as hereinafter provided is hereby authorized and empowered: (1) To purchase and/or construct and to improve, extend, enlarge, and reconstruct a water supply system or systems or sewage disposal system or systems, or both, within […]

153.04 – Construction of water supply systems, water system improvements, sewage disposal systems, and sewer improvements.

153.04 Construction of water supply systems, water system improvements, sewage disposal systems, and sewer improvements.—Whenever the county commission of any of the several counties of the state by resolution chooses to exercise the powers granted by this chapter it shall make or cause to be made such surveys, investigations, studies, borings, maps, plans, drawings and estimates […]

153.05 – Water system improvements and sanitary sewers; special assessments.

153.05 Water system improvements and sanitary sewers; special assessments.— (1) Any county may provide for the construction or reconstruction of a facility and for the levying of special assessments upon benefited property under the provisions of this section. The initial proceeding hereunder shall be the passage at any lawful meeting of the commission of a resolution ordering […]

153.06 – Issuance of bonds.

153.06 Issuance of bonds.— (1) The county commission is hereby authorized to provide by resolution at one time or from time to time for the issuance of either water revenue bonds, sewer revenue bonds, or general obligation bonds of the county for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any one or […]

153.07 – General obligation bonds.

153.07 General obligation bonds.— (1) No general obligation bonds shall be issued by county unless the issuance of such bonds shall be approved by a majority of the votes that are cast in an election in which a majority of the freeholders who are qualified electors residing in the county shall participate. Such election shall be called, […]

153.08 – Water and sewer district general obligation bonds.

153.08 Water and sewer district general obligation bonds.— (1) The county commission is hereby authorized to establish within the county such water and sewer districts as it may deem necessary. For the purpose of providing for and financing the facilities provided for in this chapter, general obligation bonds may be issued covering the facilities located in such […]

153.09 – Water revenue bonds and sewer revenue bonds.

153.09 Water revenue bonds and sewer revenue bonds.— (1) Water revenue bonds may be used only in connection with the acquisition, construction or operation of water supply systems or water system improvements, and sewer revenue bonds may be used only in connection with the acquisition, construction and operation of sewage disposal systems and sewer improvements. Water revenue […]

153.091 – Combined systems; issuance of bonds.

153.091 Combined systems; issuance of bonds.— (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 153.09, the county may issue water and sewer revenue bonds for the purpose of the construction, acquisition, or improvement of water supply systems or water system improvements and sewage disposal systems or sewer improvements, which have been combined by the county. Such water and sewer […]

153.10 – Call for bids.

153.10 Call for bids.— (1) As soon as practicable after the authorization of bonds under the provisions of this chapter or the appropriation of moneys for the construction of water system improvements or sewer improvements, the commission shall publish once, in a newspaper published in the county, and, if the estimated cost exceeds $10,000, in a newspaper […]

153.11 – Water service charges and sewer service charges; revenues.

153.11 Water service charges and sewer service charges; revenues.— (1)(a) The county commission shall in the resolution providing for the issuance of either water revenue bonds or sewer revenue bonds, or both, fix the initial schedule of rates, fees and other charges for the use of and for the services furnished or to be furnished by the […]

153.12 – Collection of charges.

153.12 Collection of charges.— (1) Upon the construction of a sewage disposal system and the financing of such construction by the issuance of sewer revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter, the owner, tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land within the county which abuts upon a street or other public way containing […]

153.13 – Application of revenues.

153.13 Application of revenues.— (1) All revenues derived from any water supply system, water system improvement, sewage disposal system or sewer improvements for either of which a single issue of water revenue bonds or sewer revenue bonds shall be issued, except such part thereof as may be required to pay the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating […]

153.14 – Trust funds.

153.14 Trust funds.—All moneys received pursuant to the authority of this chapter shall be deemed to be trust funds, to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. The resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds shall provide that any officer to whom, or any bank, trust company or other fiscal agent to which such […]

153.15 – Remedies.

153.15 Remedies.—Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter or any of the coupons appertaining thereto, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any […]

153.16 – Water revenue refunding bonds.

153.16 Water revenue refunding bonds.—The county commission is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of water revenue refunding bonds of the county for the purpose of refunding any water revenue bonds then outstanding and issued under the provisions of this chapter. The county commission is further authorized to provide by resolution for the […]

153.17 – Sewer revenue refunding bonds.

153.17 Sewer revenue refunding bonds.—The county commission is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of sewer revenue refunding bonds of the county for the purpose of refunding any sewer revenue bonds then outstanding and issued under the provisions of this chapter. The county commission is further authorized to provide by resolution for the […]

153.18 – Exemption of property from taxation.

153.18 Exemption of property from taxation.—As proper facilities for the furnishing of water for human consumption and fire protection and proper facilities for the treatment, purification and disposal of sewage are essential for the health of the inhabitants of the county and for its industrial and commercial development, and as the exercise of the powers conferred […]

153.19 – Private water supplies.

153.19 Private water supplies.—No jurisdiction hereunder shall be exercised by the board of county commissioners over any privately owned industrial water supply system or the disposition of industrial or manufacturing wastes nor shall any rule or regulation be adopted or suit instituted or prosecuted hereunder designed or intended to control or regulate the same, unless one […]