§ 12-38. Governing body.

(a)

The governing body of the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement shall be the board of county commissioners.

(b)

The board of county commissioners is empowered:

(1)

To sue and be sued in the name of the unit.

(2)

To adopt and use a seal and authorize use of a facsimile thereof.

(3)

To acquire in the name of the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement by purchase, gift or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, such lands, and rights and interest therein, including lands under water and riparian rights, and to acquire such personal property, as it may deem necessary in connection with furnishing of services authorized by this article and to hold and dispose of all real and personal property under its control; however, nothing herein contained shall authorize the power of eminent domain to be exercised beyond the limits of the taxing unit.

(4)

To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.

(5)

To employ and fix the compensation of employees of the unit except the employees of the sheriff's department.

(6)

To authorize compensation for members of the board of county commissioners for per diem, travel and other reasonable expenses for meetings, hearings and other official business, consistent with Florida Statutes, section 112.061.

(7)

To contract for the services of engineers, attorneys, accountants, financial or other consultants and such other agents as the board of county commissioners may require or deem necessary to accomplish the purpose of the unit.

(8)

To borrow money and accept gifts; to convey real or personal property; to apply for and use grants or loans of money or other property from the United States, the state, a local unit of government or any other person for any unit purposes of the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement and to enter into agreements required in connection therewith; and to hold, use and dispose of such monies or property for any unit purposes in accordance with the terms of the gift or grant, loan or agreement relating thereto, subject to state law applicable to noncharter county government.

(9)

To acquire, construct, operate, maintain, equip, extend, enlarge or improve capital projects within or without the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement and to perform the specialized public functions or services herein provided for.

(10)

To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate within or without the taxing unit.

(11)

To adopt bylaws, rules and regulations, resolutions and orders for its own government and proceedings.

(12)

To make use of any public easements, dedications to public use, or plat reservations for specific public purposes within the boundaries of the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement for those purposes authorized by the unit.

(13)

To lease as lessor or lessee to or from any person, firm, corporation, association or body, public or private, any projects of the type that the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement is authorized to undertake, and facilities or properties of any nature for the use of the unit to carry out any of the purposes of this article.

(14)

To borrow money and issue bonds, certificates, warrants, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as hereinafter provided; to levy such tax as may be authorized; and to establish a budget and a fiscal year.

(15)

To issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, special assessment bonds or combinations thereof to finance the cost of capital improvement projects authorized by this article; the procedure for issuing such revenue or assessment bonds, and the levying of special assessment bonds or special assessments shall be in the manner provided by law.

(16)

To levy ad valorem taxes on all taxable property within the Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Law Enforcement to pay the principal of and interest on any general obligation bonds which may have been issued pursuant to this article and in compliance with the Constitution of the state.

(17)

To levy and assess ad valorem taxes authorized by law to pay the cost of such specialized public functions or services as are provided for in this article.

(18)

To contract with municipalities, cities, towns, counties or other political subdivisions, public corporations or persons to provide or receive such specialized public functions or services.

(19)

To provide for by resolution an advisory council and appoint its members. The composition of the council and the term of office for its members shall be set forth in the bylaws and/or rules and regulations of the governing body.

(Ord. No. 79-10, § II, 7-31-79; Ord. No. 80-8, § I, 9-8-80; Ord. No. 82-14, § IIB, C, 8-10-82)

State law reference

Board of county commissioners to be governing body, F.S. § 125.01(2); tax levy in municipal service taxing units, F.S. § 125.01(1)(r).