In introducing the subject of the Polk County Charter, it is useful to review the purpose of
the Charter and how it came about.

It is helpful to think of the Polk County Charter as a Constitution for the people of Polk
County in much the same way as the United States Constitution is the Constitution for the
people of the United States.

The United States Constitution is a delegation of powers to the federal government, and the
Polk County Constitution is a delegation of power from the people of Polk County to their
government. In a democracy all power resides ultimately in the people, but in order to
govern their affairs, the people grant power to operate a government in the public’s interest.

Not all counties in Florida are “charter counties”. Polk County is one of seventeen charter
counties. The other fifty counties derive their power from the Florida Constitution and laws
enacted by the Florida legislature. Unlike Polk County, these counties have little control
over the structure of their county governments.

Our Charter was developed in 1997 by a Charter Commission appointed by the County
Commission and the Constitutional Officers (Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Supervisor of
Elections, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser). The Charter Commission developed the
Charter and submitted it to the voters for their reaction in the November 1998 general
election. Voters approved it by a wide margin.

This Charter required that a Charter Review Commission review the Charter in 2001-2002
and to submit any proposed changes to the voters in the November 2002 election. That was
accomplished and a total of eight proposed amendments were submitted to Polk County
voters on November 5, 2002. Five of the amendments were approved and three amendments
failed. A summary of those proposed amendments, and the election results, can be seen at
Summary of Proposed Amendments to the Charter.

The Charter requires that by July 1 of every eighth year after 2001 a Charter Review
Commission again be appointed to review the Charter and to present to the Board of County
Commissioners any recommended revisions. The next Charter Review Commission will be
appointed in 2009.

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