Supreme Court of Florida

A judgment validating tax-increment-financed bonds proposed for issuance by a county is affirmed where: 1) the bonds to be issued did not constitute an indebtedness, liability, or pledge of the faith, credit, or taxing power of the county; and 2) the county therefore had authority to issue the bonds without first obtaining approval by referendum as required by article VII, section 12 of the Florida Constitution. (Revised opinion)

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/18/2008
• Published 09/18/2008

Judges

• WELLS, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• David A. Theriaque, S. Brent Spain, and Timothy E. Dennis of Theriaque, Vorbeck and Spain, Tallahassee, Florida, and Kerry Ann Schultz of Bordelon and Schultz Law Firm, P.L., Gulf Breeze, FL, for Appellant., David G. Tucker and Robert L. Nabors of Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida, and Major B. Harding of Ausley and McMullen, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida, on behalf of Florida Association of Counties and Florida School Boards Association, Inc.;  Randall W. Hanna of Bryant, Miller, and Olive, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida, and Harry Morrison, Jr., Tallahassee, Florida, on behalf of the Florida League of Cities, Inc.;   Stephen H. Grimes of Holland and Knight, LLP, Tallahassee, Florida, and David E. Cardwell of The Cardwell Law Firm, Orlando, Florida, on behalf of the Florida Redevelopment Association, Inc.;   and Scott D. Makar, Solicitor General, Craig D. Feiser, and Charles B. Upton, II, Deputy Solicitors General, Tallahassee, Florida, on behalf of Attorney General Bill McCollum, as Amici Curiae.


• For Appellees:
  
• Richard Lott of Lott and Associates, P.L., Gulf Breeze, Florida, Patricia Lott of Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, P.L.C., Pensacola, Florida, and Elaine Johnson James of Edwards, Angell, Palmer, and Dodge, LLP, West Palm Beach Florida, for Appellees.