CityStats Annual Survey Offers Insights

Florida's diverse cities share a common goal

by Wade Burkley, Florida League of Cities

Florida is more than a home to millions; it is a unique tapestry of communities. To some people, Florida represents sandy white beaches. Others see the state as a bustling metropolis with the best amusement parks and entertainment districts in the world. Some prefer the unique landscapes covered in nature trails and awe-inspiring wildlife. Still others are drawn to the world-class universities and businesses producing cutting-edge research and innovation. No matter where you are in Florida, each city has its own unique welcoming atmosphere for the 21 million people who call the Sunshine State home.

Every city plays a major role in making Florida the most diverse state in the country, and their communities are the driving force behind what makes Florida so remarkable. Each city has a different perspective on how to most effectively and efficiently serve their communities, and Home Rule gives cities the ability to provide services, address issues and maintain an excellent standard of living for their citizens based on their individual needs.

To best serve and advocate for every city in the state, the Florida League of Cities aims to know each municipality better than anyone else. The League’s Center for Municipal Research conducts the annual CityStats survey to collect data from municipalities to better its efforts in understanding Florida’s cities, protecting Home Rule and serving as the top resource for local governments. The results from the CityStats survey and supplementary MiniSurveys throughout the year are used to create the annual CityStats Report.

The annual CityStats survey is the main process by which the FLC can provide up-to-date information for its members and staff to carry out their mission. Much of the data collected through the survey is not available anywhere else, and it is important information for League members, staff and research institute partners. In 2020, CityStats surveys were collected from 344 of Florida’s 411 cities, totaling 84% of the total statewide municipal population. The League sends a very big thank you to all of those who take the time to respond!

Florida is predominantly a state of small cities with 45% of Florida’s 411 municipalities having populations under 5,000. In 2020, the median population size for a city in Florida was 6,199, and only 11% of cities have a population greater than 60,000. Since 2000, 12 new municipalities have been incorporated in Florida with a total population of more than 350,000. Today, most Floridians (50.6%) live in cities.

While Florida’s cities come in all shapes and sizes, they all work to provide essential services for their communities and residents. The most common services such as water, wastewater and solid waste collection are often provided directly by city employees or funded by the city and contracted out to other entities. In 2020, 84% of cities provided water service, and 75% managed wastewater within their community. Whether operated directly by the city or through a contract, 90% of cities provided solid waste collection to residents. Additional services tracked by the CityStats survey include animal control, building inspection and public transportation, among others.

City employees perform a variety of tasks depending on the size and needs of their community. According to the 2020 CityStats survey, the size of each workforce varied from a handful of employees to several thousand in our largest cities. Overall, the median across the state was one municipal employee for every 109 residents.

One factor that plays a large role in determining how many employees a city will have is how they provide public safety services, such as law enforcement and fire rescue. In 2020, over 85% of municipalities provided police and fire services for their residents. The annual CityStats Report further breaks down how cities are providing services and ensuring public safety.

As local governments faced new challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, it became even more apparent how crucial they are in providing services for their citizens. During the early stages of the pandemic, the Center for Municipal Research worked with several government agencies and statewide associations to collect necessary data to help develop appropriate responses and assist with policy decisions. Surveys included topics regarding the fiscal impact the pandemic would have on cities, assistance programs being offered by cities, travel restrictions by municipal staff and the implementation of virtual meetings, among other topics.

From the very beginning of the pandemic, cities implemented policies to assist residents and businesses impacted by COVID-19. Based on a survey conducted in March 2020, the League found that 90% of responding cities were offering some form of assistance through their utility service, including suspended cutoffs and payment plans. The figure above shows the most common policies cities implemented to address the financial impact citizens and businesses were facing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to developing policies to assist residents and businesses, cities also focused on ways to ensure the safety and well-being of municipal employees. A survey conducted in March 2020 showed that 56% of responding cities either already had in place or were developing a policy to allow for city employees to telecommute. League data demonstrates how quickly cities responded to the rapidly evolving situation during the early stages and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

While public safety and health are always a top concern of local governments, 2020 pushed these topics to the forefront of everyone’s minds. Florida cities are working around the clock to keep their citizens safe and improve their quality of life. While they serve diverse communities with unique backgrounds, they all share a common goal: to efficiently and effectively serve and provide for their communities.

The full CityStats Report is posted annually at flcities.com. Select the “Research + Resources” heading. This annual report features the most notable and timely statistics from numerous Center for Municipal Research data analyses and projects, all of which are available on the League’s website or through a request to FLC staff.

Wade Burkley is the research analyst for the Florida League of Cities. Contact Burkley at wburkley@flcities.com.