WILLIAM M. BRADLEY, SR., A CITIZEN, FREEHOLDER, QUALIFIED ELECTOR AND TAXPAYER, ETC.
v.
CITY OF HOMESTEAD

Fla. | 1936-08-03
Whitfield, C. J., and Terrell, Brown, Buford and Davis, J. J., concur.
125 Fla. 137 Florida Supreme Court (1936)
Also reported at: 169 So. 639

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

Bradley, a Homestead citizen and taxpayer, sought to enjoin the city from issuing $28,000 in revenue certificates for electric and water plant improvements without voter approval as required by the Florida Constitution. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's dismissal, holding that revenue certificates payable solely from utility revenues do not constitute "bonds" requiring voter approval under the Constitution.


Holding

The court held that revenue certificates payable solely from utility operating revenues do not constitute "bonds" within the meaning of the Florida Constitution and therefore do not require voter approval. The certificates do not pledge or create any legal obligation to use the city's taxing power for repayment.


Key Quotes

“That the revenue certificates proposed to be issued by said Ordinance No. 223 of said City of Homestead, do not constitute "bonds" within the meaning of Section 6 of Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Florida in force at this time.”

The trial court's primary holding that revenue certificates are not subject to constitutional voter approval requirements because they are not "bonds."

Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.

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Facts & Procedural History

The City of Homestead had constructed and operated an electric and water plant since February 1927. The city proposed to issue $28,000 in revenue cert…

The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.

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Opinion of the Court
Per Curiam.

Per Curiam.

— This appeal is from a decree dismissing a bill of complaint seeking to enjoin the issue by the City *138of Homestead, of $28,000.00 “Electric and Water Revenue Certificates” for the purpose of making “improvements and additions to an existing electric and water plant and distribution system,” of the City of Homestead, without the approval of the freeholder electors of the city as is required by Section 6, Article IX of the Constitution of Florida as amended in 1930. The revenue certificates are to be paid solely from the revenue derived from the operation of the said electric and water plant and distribution system and not otherwise.

The decree of the chancellor dismissing the bill of complaint contains the following:

“The above cause came on this day to be heard upon the bill of complaint and motion to dismiss the same and notice of the respective parties to each other of this hearing and counsel for the respective parties being personally present and having presented said cause, and the court having considered the same finds:

“1. That the City of Homestead has statutory authority to establish, construct, build, purchase and maintain and operate a plant or plants for the supplying and distribution of water and electricity within or without its limits.

“2. That said City of Homestead has heretofore constructed an electric and water plant and distribution system and owns the same and the land on which its power house, generating engines, water tower and pump are located, and that said city has maintained and operated said plant and distribution system since February, 1927.

“3. That said city has statutory authority and power to construct additions and improvements to said electric and water plant and distribution system and finance the same by the issuance of revenue certificates proposed to be issued by its Ordinance No. 223, adopted February 17, 1936.

*139 “4. That the proposed improvements mentioned in said Ordinance No. 223 are necessary and bona fide to said plant and system owned by said city.

“5. That said city has been annually deriving a net revenue from the maintenance from said plant and system sufficient to pay the costs of operation and maintenance and has during the years ending on July 31, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935, derived annual unpledged net revenues from the maintenance and operation of said plant and system in an amount sufficient to pay the costs of such maintenance and operation as well as the proposed additions and improvements thereto, and as well as the interest on and principal of all obligations of said city including the revenue certificates authorized to be issued by said Ordinance No. 223 which are payable from or constitute a charge or lien upon the revenues of said plant and system.

“6. That the construction of the proposed additions and improvements and the plan for financing the same, all as is proposed by said Ordinance No. 223, does not create a direct, indirect or contingent pledge of the taxing power of said city or impose any legal or moral duty or obligation directly or indirectly, presently or potentially coercive upon said city to exercise its power of taxation to pay the proposed revenue certificates or obligations or the interest thereon, or to pay any expenses incident to the construction, operation or maintenance of said proposed additions and improvements, and the court being fully advised in the premises, it is therefore,

“Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed as follows:

“1. That the revenue certificates proposed to be issued by said Ordinance No. 223 of said City of Homestead, do not constitute “bonds” within the meaning of Section 6 of *140Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Florida in force at this time.

“2. The proposed revenue certificates do not constitute “bonds” or “indebtedness” within the provisions of any general or special law governing the issuance of bonds or the creation of indebtedness.

“3. The revenue certificates or obligations mentioned in the bill and the proceeding authorizing the issuance thereof, comply with all constitutional and statutory provisions relative thereto and when executed and delivered, said revenue certificates or obligations will be binding or legal obligations of the City of Homestead, payable in accordance with their terms.”

The decree should be affirmed upon the authority of State, ex rel., v. City of Miami, 113 Fla. 280, So. 6, and other similar cases: See Williams v. Town of Dunnellon, decided at this term.

Affirmed.

Whitfield, C. J., and Terrell, Brown, Buford and Davis, J. J., concur.

Ellis, P. J.,

concurs upon the principles announced in his specially concurring opinion in the case of State, ex rel. City of Vero Beach, v. MacConnell, this day filed.

Concurrence
Ellis, P. J.,

Ellis, P. J.,

concurs upon the principles announced in his specially concurring opinion in the case of State, ex rel. City of Vero Beach, v. MacConnell, this day filed.


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