214 So. 2d 745 | Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | 1968
Lead Opinion
The appellants (plaintiffs, taxpayers of Seminole County) appeal from a final judgment entered in favor of the appellees
The legislature established the temporary county seat for Seminole County by Laws of Florida, 1913, Chapter 6511, Section 3, which provided that:
“The City of Sanford shall be the temporary County Seat of said County until a permanent County Seat is duly established in accordance with the laws of this Stat-e.” (Emphasis added.)
The legislature, by Laws of Florida, 1919, Special Acts 8197, authorized the use of public funds to be raised by the issuance of time warrants for the purchase and construction of a courthouse in the City of Sanford.
Later, the legislature by Laws of Florida, 1925, Chapter 11190, authorized the expenditure of public funds raised by the use of time warrants for the construction of a county jail in the City of Sanford.
The board of county commissioners in 1959, proceeding under the provisions of F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., at public hearing, with notice, determined that there was a need and necessity of a new county jail and additions to the courthouse in the City of Sanford. In 1960, the board of county commissioners authorized the issuance of up to $500,000. in certificates of indebtedness under F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A. The issuance of these certificates was validiated by action in the circuit court. The funds were thus obtained and the construction completed.
The record shows that since the creation of Seminole County 54 years ago until the filing of this case the voters of the county never exercised their prerogative to establish a county seat, F.S.1967, Chapter 138, F.S.A., nor did any taxpayer of the county attempt to enjoin or prevent any of the various funding or construction projects which over these years have fur.nished courthouse and jail facilities for the county government in the City of Sanford.
The board of county commissioners as admitted by its answer is now in the process of financing construction of a new courthouse in the City of Sanford, under the provisions of F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., which does not require approval of the voters, and in furtherance of this process a contract has been made with a firm of architects for professional services pertaining to the construction.
The appellants contend that it is unlawful to raise funds under F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., for construction of a new courthouse until the voters of Seminole County have voted to establish a permanent seat of county government as provided in F.S.1967, ’Chapter 138, F.S.A. Further, they suggest that it is lawful for the board of county commissioners to construct a new courthouse in Sanford raising money under the provisions of F.S.1967, Chapter 130, F.S.A., which necessitates approval by the voters, thus arguing that the law precludes the construction of a new courthouse in the City of Sanford which would prevent the change of the county seat for twenty years, F.S.1967, Section 138.10, F.S.A., without approval of the voters one way or another.
Appellees contend that the City of Sanford has been established as the permanent seat of county government by acquiescence on the part of the voters and taxpayers of Seminole County due to the passage of time and the several construction projects of county courthouse and jail facilities and the completion of related funding programs.
Appellee, City of Sanford, further contends that it represents the people of San
The interest of the City of Sanford in the outcome of this case is both logical and real but not recognized by the law. Charlotte County Development Commission v. Lord, Fla.App. 1965, 180 So.2d 198. The city’s many valid arguments against moving the county seat are for the voters of Seminole County to judge when deciding the location of the county seat. The City of Sanford has no prerogative in this regard. Its citizens along with the other citizens of the county are the real parties in interest. The law gives this decision to the people and history supports its choice.
The City of Sanford is the temporary county seat of Seminole County and will continue in this status at the pleasure of the people of that county, either through their choice to remain passive or their choice to waive their right to move their seat of county government for twenty years through the funding of the construction of a new courthouse under lawful provisions or by the choice of the voters in an election called for the purpose of such a decision.
The reservation of a choice in determining the seat of county government established in the law, article VIII, section 4, constitution of the State of Florida, F.S.A., may not be circumvented by the use of F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., over the objection of voters and taxpayers. Dunscombe v. County Commissioners of Martin County, 1929, 98 Fla. 112, 123 So. 523.
The use of the words “temporary” and “permanent” in connection with county seats is perhaps misleading as all county seats are temporary except in instances through the action of F.S.1967, Section 138.10, F.S.A., the site is fixed for a prescribed 20-year period. The term “temporary” as it is used in article VIII, section 4, constitution of the State of Florida, means until a change is made as provided by general law, so as in instances such as here involved, a temporary county seat may maintain this status for extended periods. Thus, the terms “temporary” and “permanent” are not related to time in the normal sense.
Accordingly, the final judgment appealed from is reversed and the case is remanded with directions that judgment be entered enjoining the board of county commissioners from financing the construction of a courthouse in the City of Sanford under the provisions of F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., and dismissing as a party the in-tervenor, the City of Sanford.
Concurrence Opinion
(concurring specially).
I concur in the conclusion and able opinion of Judge Kelly. I would, however, offer the following additional thoughts for whatever assistance they might be to the parties in evaluating the results of our decision.
The legislature of this state has the power to create new counties, article VIII, section 3, Florida Constitution of 1885. In connection with the creation of new counties, the legislature can designate a temporary county seat. This authority is conferred by section 4 of article VIII of the Florida constitution. What this section or article VIII probably contemplated was that the legislature by the special act creating a new county not only would specify a temporary county seat, but would also provide for an election by the people of the county
F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., provides a means of financing the construction of courthouses and jails and additions thereto. The statutory scheme created by this chapter does not require a vote of the electors of the county in which the improvements are to be constructed although the chapter authorizes the levy of a building tax not to exceed five mills. As shown by the answer filed in this case by the county commissioners of Seminole County, they are in fact proceeding under Chapter 135 of the Florida Statutes to finance the construction of a new courthouse and improvements in the existing jail in Sanford, Florida. This statute, however, does not authorize the financing of the proposed improvements at a temporary county seat. Such was the holding of Dunscombe v. County Commissioners of Martin County, 1929, 98 Fla. 112, 123 So. 523.
The trial court held that Sanford has become the permanent county seat of Seminole County by acquiescence and thus avoided the problem created by the construction placed on F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., (formerly Section 2384, et seq., Compiled General Laws, 1927) by Dunscombe v. County Commissioners of Martin County, supra.
The appellees rely on dictum in the case of Martin County v. Hansen, 1933, 111 Fla. 40, 149 So. 616, 618, to support the contention that a temporary seat may become permanent by acquiescence. I do not believe that the significant results which flow from the trial court’s conclusion should rest on such a tenuous foundation as dictum. None of the parties to this cause have directed us to any authority actually holding that an entire electorate can be estopped by acquiescence. Because of the serious consequences of the application of such a rule to an entire populace in a unit of government, this court should not create such a doctrine.
Whatever the elements of estoppel by acquiescence are, there must certainly be some conduct over a substantial period of time that reasonably suggests or implies a consent. 28 Am.Jur.2d, Estoppel and Waivers, § 57. In the special act creating Seminole County the legislature did not provide for a county seat election. For this reason the removal procedure of F.S. 1967, Chapter 138, F.S.A., has been the only means available to its citizens to select a permanent county seat. In my opinion, the failure of the citizens of Seminole County to attempt to change their county seat by utilizing the provisions of F.S. 1967, Chapter 138, F.S.A., does not reasonably imply a consent that Sanford shall be the permanent county seat for the purposes of financing a new courthouse and jail addition under F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A. There is lacking a solid connection between the asserted negative conduct and the conclusion of consent.
The appellees point with some force to the fact that in 1959 the county financed improvements on its present courthouse and the construction of a new jail under F.S. 1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A. This plan of financing and the evidence of indebtedness issued thereunder were validated by a decree of the circuit court from which no appeal was apparently ■ taken. The transaction is therefore unimpeachable, but it cannot now serve as a basis for a conclusion that the people of the county have lost the right to question the subsequent use of Chapter 135 financing.
My conclusion simply is that F.S.1967, Chapter 135, F.S.A., does not authorize the financing of the proposed improvements when a permanent county seat has not been