100 YEARS
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100 YEARS
History of the League FLC services and influence grow through the years by Sheryl S. Jackson Florida League of Cities
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efore 1921, Florida cities lobbied the Legislature on an individual and unstructured basis. In 1922, a statewide organization for cities, now the Florida League of Cities (FLC), changed that situation. By 1928, the League incorporated and established its operations in the City of Jacksonville. Later, the League changed its location to the City of St. Petersburg and then returned to Jacksonville. For information on the first 25 years of the League, see p. 34. The organization grew. A new state Constitution adopted in 1969 included several provisions that directly affected cities. It established Home Rule provisions, prohibited double taxation, granted collective bargaining to public employee unions, eliminated municipal courts and imposed a 10 mill cap on ad valorem taxes for cities and counties. In 1971, the League’s headquarters moved to the City of Tallahassee to better lobby the Legislature. The ’70s and ’80s saw the beginning of new services offered to cities beginning with workers’ compensation: ▸ The Florida Municipal Self-Insurers Fund in 1977, now the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT) ▸ The Florida Municipal Liability Self-Insurers Program in 1979 ▸ The Florida Health Trust Fund, now the FMIT Group Health Program, in 1980 ▸ The Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund in 1983 ▸ The Florida Municipal Loan Program, now the Florida Municipal Loan Council (FMLC), in 1985 ▸ The Florida Municipal Property Self-Insurers Program (now part of the FMIT) in 1989. 32 QUALITY CITIES | FIRST QUARTER 2022
The FMLC has issued more than $300 million in tax-exempt securities. This alternate short-term financing allows city and county governments to move forward with municipal projects. The Bond Issue Program can be used for purposes including capital improvements, renovations, fixed-asset additions or refinancing of existing debt. As the number of services provided grew, so did the need for more space. In 1989, property in the City of Orlando was purchased to house the League’s Public Risk Services. In 1990, the League supported a campaign to pass Amendment Three to limit unfunded mandates. The amendment passed. Efforts to raise awareness of the importance of city governments and their service to their communities took a step forward in 1991. State leaders designated the first annual Florida City Government Week. Cities throughout the state continue to use how-to resources provided by the League and develop innovative ideas to showcase city services. This year, 48 cities participated. (See an overview of cities’ activities, p. 48.) In 1992, the League and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government established the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials. The Institute was designed to help elected officials meet the requirements of an elected role by providing a thorough orientation to municipal government. Although the primary focus of advocacy and government relations remained state-level lawmaking, federal issues that affected the state increased the need to expand advocacy efforts. The League’s Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) committee was created in 1995 to strengthen federal relations. In 1999, the League established its Special Investigation Unit
