Civics Lesson: How Wakulla County Government Works (Or Doesn’t)

Wakulla County, nestled in Florida’s Big Bend, is a small community with a government that plays a big role in shaping daily life for its 33,764 residents (2020 Census). But how does this government actually work—and is it working for us? In this civics lesson, we’ll break down the structure of Wakulla County’s government, its branches, and their functions as defined by the Florida Constitution, Florida Statutes, and the county’s own charter. We’ll also explore term limits in Florida and dig into a troubling dynamic: there’s a strong suspicion of developer influence steering the county’s agenda, leaving residents on a bumpy road to a way of life many didn’t sign up for.

The Foundation: Florida Law and Wakulla’s Charter Status

Florida counties operate under the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes, which set the framework for local governance. Counties can be either charter or non-charter, and this distinction matters. Charter counties have broader “home rule” powers, meaning they can pass laws and govern local affairs without state approval, as long as they don’t conflict with state law (Article VIII, Section 1(g), Florida Constitution). Non-charter counties, on the other hand, have less autonomy and must follow state law more strictly.

Wakulla County is a charter county, having adopted its Home Rule Charter in 2008, as noted on mywakulla.com. This charter was approved by voters and outlines the county’s government structure, powers, and duties, giving Wakulla more flexibility to address local issues compared to non-charter counties. For example, Wakulla’s charter allows the county to set its own rules for things like impact fees or local ordinances, powers that non-charter counties often lack. However, the charter must still align with state law, and the Florida Constitution remains the ultimate authority. With this in mind, let’s explore the three branches of Wakulla County’s government and the additional roles of constitutional officers.

Legislative Branch: The Board of County Commissioners

The legislative branch of Wakulla County is the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), a five-member elected body that serves as the county’s primary policy-making entity. Under Chapter 125, Florida Statutes, the BoCC has the authority to enact ordinances, levy taxes, and manage county services such as roads, parks, public health, and emergency management. They approve the county budget, set property tax rates, and make zoning decisions that shape development and land use.

As a charter county, Wakulla’s BoCC has additional powers defined by its 2008 charter. For instance, the charter allows the BoCC to create local regulations without needing state approval, as long as they don’t conflict with Florida law. This includes the ability to impose impact fees on new developments to fund infrastructure—a power that became a focal point in the November 2024 referendum, where voters approved a charter amendment requiring impact fee studies every five years starting in 2025 (mywakulla.com). The BoCC also appoints a county administrator and other key officials, oversees county departments, and represents Wakulla in regional and state matters.

Each commissioner is elected by district for a four-year term, with elections staggered to ensure continuity (Chapter 124, Florida Statutes). The BoCC meets regularly—typically twice a month, as seen on mywakulla.com—to discuss and vote on issues like budget approvals, infrastructure projects, and community programs. Their decisions directly impact everything from road maintenance to public safety, making them the most visible arm of county government.

Executive Branch: The County Administrator and Constitutional Officers

Wakulla County operates under the commission-administrator form of government, the most common structure in Florida (Florida Association of Counties). The BoCC appoints a county administrator to serve as the chief executive officer, as outlined in Chapter 125.74, Florida Statutes. The administrator’s role is to implement the BoCC’s policies, manage daily operations, and oversee county departments like public works, planning, and emergency management. In Wakulla, this includes coordinating responses to natural disasters, managing public services, and ensuring the county runs smoothly.

The county administrator doesn’t act alone, though. The executive branch also includes five constitutional officers, who are elected by voters and defined by Article VIII, Section 1(d) of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 125, Florida Statutes. These officers operate independently but must have their budgets approved by the BoCC, which can create tension. Here’s who they are and what they do:

• Sheriff: Responsible for law enforcement, public safety, and often managing the county jail. The sheriff enforces state laws and county ordinances, provides court security, and responds to emergencies (Chapter 30, Florida Statutes).

• Property Appraiser: Assesses the value of all real and personal property in the county for tax purposes. This determines how much property tax revenue the county collects, which funds services and infrastructure (Chapter 193, Florida Statutes).

• Tax Collector: Collects property taxes, issues vehicle tags, and handles other state and local fees. The tax collector’s work directly funds the county’s budget (Chapter 197, Florida Statutes).

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Serves as the county’s financial officer, managing court records, public records, and financial audits. The clerk also acts as the BoCC’s official record-keeper, producing reports like annual financial statements (Chapter 28, Florida Statutes).

• Supervisor of Elections: Oversees voter registration, conducts elections, and ensures fair voting processes for county offices, including the BoCC and constitutional officers (Chapter 98, Florida Statutes).

These officers are elected for four-year terms, and their independence ensures checks and balances within the executive branch. However, their reliance on BoCC budget approvals can lead to conflicts—especially with the sheriff, who has the right to appeal budget decisions to the state under Chapter 30.15, Florida Statutes.

Judicial Branch: County Courts

The judicial branch in Wakulla County consists of the county court, which is part of Florida’s unified court system under Article V of the Florida Constitution. Chapter 34, Florida Statutes, defines county courts as having jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases, violations of county ordinances, and civil cases with disputes up to $15,000. They also handle small claims (up to $8,000) and traffic violations. Appeals from county court decisions go to the Second Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Wakulla and surrounding counties.

In Wakulla, the county court enforces local ordinances and resolves disputes that affect residents’ daily lives—like traffic tickets or landlord-tenant issues. The court also plays a role in upholding county regulations, such as environmental or zoning laws, though it’s primarily a reactive body, stepping in after violations occur rather than shaping policy. County judges are elected for six-year terms (Article V, Section 10, Florida Constitution), ensuring an independent judiciary that balances the legislative and executive branches.

Term Limits in Florida: An Overview

Term limits are a key feature of Florida’s governance, affecting various levels of government and shaping how long elected officials can serve. Let’s examine how term limits apply across the state, including in Wakulla County, and what they mean for local leadership.

• State-Level Term Limits: At the state level, Florida imposes term limits on both its executive and legislative branches, established through voter-approved amendments to the Florida Constitution. The governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet members are limited to two consecutive four-year terms (Article IV, Section 5, Florida Constitution). This means a governor can serve a maximum of eight years before stepping down, though they can run again after a four-year break. For example, Governor Ron DeSantis, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, will leave office in January 2027 and cannot run again in 2026 due to this limit. State legislators face similar restrictions: members of the Florida House and Senate are limited to eight consecutive years in office—four two-year terms for House members and two four-year terms for Senators (Article VI, Section 4, Florida Constitution). This rule, passed by voters in 1992 via Amendment 9 with 77% support, aims to prevent power entrenchment and encourage fresh perspectives. However, it only applies to consecutive terms, so some lawmakers bounce between chambers to extend their tenure, a practice critics argue undermines the spirit of term limits.

• County Commissioners and Local Term Limits: For county commissioners, including Wakulla’s BoCC, term limits are not mandated by the Florida Constitution or Florida Statutes. However, as a charter county, Wakulla has the authority to set its own term limits through its charter (Florida Association of Counties). As of March 2025, Wakulla’s charter does not impose term limits on its commissioners, meaning they can serve indefinitely as long as they keep winning elections. This lack of term limits has sparked debate, especially since 11 other Florida charter counties, like Broward, have voter-approved term limits for their commissioners, often set at eight years. In 2023, the Florida Senate proposed legislation (CS/CS/SB 1110) to impose a uniform eight-year term limit on all county commissioners, retroactively applying to terms starting on or after November 8, 2022, unless a county charter already had stricter limits. The bill didn’t pass, as the House version (HB 477) focused only on school board members. More recently, in February 2025, a proposal emerged to set eight-year term limits for both county commissioners and school board members, reflecting ongoing efforts to curb long tenures at the local level (Florida Voice News, Feb 19, 2025). Posts on X from March 2024 also show lawmakers like Rep. Salzman pushing for a constitutional amendment to put it on the ballot for taxpayers to decide through vote to limit county commissioners and school board members to eight years, indicating continued public and legislative interest in this issue.

How It All Fits Together in Wakulla

Wakulla’s charter status gives it more autonomy than non-charter counties, allowing the BoCC to tailor policies to local needs—like setting impact fees or regulating pedestrian safety, as seen in the 2024 charter amendments. On paper, the system is clear: the BoCC sets the agenda, the county administrator and constitutional officers execute it, and the county court ensures legal accountability. The BoCC, as the legislative branch, is supposed to lead by creating policies that reflect the community’s needs, while the county administrator implements those policies as the executive arm.

But in Wakulla, the operation often feels out of balance. Many residents suspect that developer influence is steering the county’s agenda, whether it’s through the BoCC, the county administrator, or both. While we don’t know for certain who’s driving the bus, the pattern is clear: projects and initiatives often seem to prioritize development over the infrastructure needed to support it, and the BoCC frequently appears to approve these plans with little pushback. This raises serious questions about what’s happening behind closed doors. Is the BoCC overly aligned with developers, advocating for growth regardless of infrastructure issues? Or is the county administrator, potentially well-connected to the construction industry, pushing an agenda that favors developers over residents? The lack of transparency makes it hard to know for sure, but the result is the same: Wakulla’s on a bumpy road to a way of life that many residents didn’t sign up for.

Take the county’s comprehensive plan, for example. Under Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, this plan is meant to guide long-term growth and development, ensuring it aligns with the community’s vision. But in Wakulla, the plan is constantly being amended to allow dense housing developments—like 0.25-acre lots—right next to rural farms. This erodes the rural character that defines Wakulla, leaving residents frustrated as their way of life changes without their input. The BoCC has the power to slow this down, using its charter authority to set stricter development rules, but instead, they often seem to go along with proposals that favor growth at all costs.

It’s also worth noting that, despite Wakulla’s home rule powers as a charter county, the BoCC and administration frequently blame the state of Florida for local challenges. Whether it’s delays on Hwy 319, regulatory hurdles, or budget constraints, local leaders often point to Tallahassee as the source of their woes. But as a charter county, Wakulla has more control over its destiny than most—home rule means they can pass local ordinances, adjust fees, and prioritize projects without state interference, as long as they stay within legal bounds. So why the constant finger-pointing? It’s a convenient way to dodge accountability, leaving residents wondering why the county isn’t using its charter powers to tackle pressing issues head-on.

What’s Next?

Wakulla County’s government has the tools to serve its residents effectively, thanks to its charter status and the framework of Florida law. The BoCC shapes policy, the county administrator and constitutional officers keep things running, and the county court ensures legal oversight. Term limits at the state level aim to keep leadership fresh, but their absence at the county level in Wakulla raises questions about whether long tenures are contributing to the status quo. The suspicion of developer influence—whether it’s swaying the BoCC, the county administrator, or both—suggests that the system may not be working for the people of Wakulla. The constant push for development, often at the expense of infrastructure and the county’s rural character, indicates that priorities may not align with what residents want. For those who value Wakulla’s way of life, understanding this civics lesson is the first step to demanding better. Check out the BoCC’s meeting schedule on mywakulla.com, or reach out to your constitutional officers to voice your concerns. Stay informed—Wakulla’s future depends on it.