Constitutional Offices
Share:
On Nov. 6, 2018, voters in the State of Florida adopted Amendment 10 to the State Constitution. As a result of Amendment 10, since Jan. 7, 2025, there are five constitutional offices operating in our County, all of which run independently from Miami-Dade County government: the Sheriff, the Supervisor of Elections, the Property Appraiser, the Tax Collector, and the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Sheriff's Office
An independent elected sheriff assumed responsibility for most of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Supervisor of Elections
An independent elected Supervisor of Elections assumed responsibility for the County’s Elections Department.
Office of the Tax Collector
An independent elected Tax Collector assumed responsibility for the Tax Collector Department.
Property Appraiser
The elected Property Appraiser assumed responsibility for the Office of the Property Appraiser.
Clerk of the Court and Comptroller
The elected Clerk of the Court and Comptroller assumed responsibilities as the Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, County Recorder, County Auditor, custodian of all County Funds, and custodian of all records filed with the Courts.
Employee Information
How do these changes impact County employees?
It has been a year of unprecedented change with the historical transition and establishment of the new constitutional offices. On Jan. 7, 2025, most employees in the Police, Elections, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Finance departments transitioned to become employees of the constitutional offices. If you are an employee in one of these offices, you may have questions about how this change will affect you.
The County has worked closely with each of our newly elected constitutional officers to ensure a smooth transition for employees.
Some key points to the transition:
The County has worked closely with each of our newly elected constitutional officers to ensure a smooth transition for employees.
Some key points to the transition:
- Employees were expected to report to work on Jan. 7, 2025, at the same location and time, unless instructed otherwise by their corresponding constitutional officer.
- Employees’ current position, pay, benefits, and seniority will carry over without interruption.
- Employees’ participation in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) will continue. Employees will continue to earn service credit in accordance with FRS rules.
- Employee participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) will be uninterrupted during this transition. However, FRS has important requirements for employees to continue DROP participation with a new employer. Employees are encouraged to contact FRS directly.
- Employees who transitioned to a constitutional office and seek reemployment with the County after Jan. 7, 2025, can transfer their leave balances and years of service (for longevity bonus calculations) if they are offered a County position within one year of the Jan. 7, 2025 transition date and have not had a break in service.
Resident Information
How do these changes impact County residents?
Effective Jan. 7, 2025, the structure of our County government changed, as these five independent offices will operate separately from Miami-Dade County.
Miami-Dade County will continue to assist the new constitutional officers so they are ready to serve the community with minimal disruptions to services.
For residents, we expect that most services, such as policing, tax collection, elections, property appraisals, and financial services, will remain the same, although they may look different under new leadership.
Other services are anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact on our taxpayers, such as the newly elected Tax Collector assuming the responsibilities of the state’s driver license services currently provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This transition will be phased in over time, beginning in 2025.
Miami-Dade County will continue to assist the new constitutional officers so they are ready to serve the community with minimal disruptions to services.
For residents, we expect that most services, such as policing, tax collection, elections, property appraisals, and financial services, will remain the same, although they may look different under new leadership.
Other services are anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact on our taxpayers, such as the newly elected Tax Collector assuming the responsibilities of the state’s driver license services currently provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This transition will be phased in over time, beginning in 2025.
Learn about Amendment 10
What changes were triggered by Amendment 10?
On Nov. 6, 2018, voters in the State of Florida adopted Amendment 10 to the State Constitution. This action by the State’s voters prohibits counties like ours from performing some of the duties of Florida constitutional offices of the Sheriff, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, or the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Under Amendment 10, several counties with home rule charters, such as our County, were required to create new or reestablish previously abolished constitutional offices. In Nov. 2024, County residents elected the new constitutional officers, which assumed their role on Jan. 7, 2025.
The Clerk of the Court and Comptroller was the only constitutional office in our County prior to Jan. 7, 2025. However, under the Miami-Dade County Charter, the Finance Department was headed by a finance director co-appointed by the Mayor and the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. The responsibility to serve as the custodian of County funds was previously performed by the Miami-Dade County Finance Department. Due to Amendment 10 and new State legislation, most of the Miami-Dade County Finance Department functions were transferred to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Prior to Jan. 7, 2025, Miami-Dade County had an elected property appraiser, but this office was not entirely independent of the County. The other three offices - Miami-Dade Police, Elections, and Tax Collector – were previously County departments.
Under Amendment 10, several counties with home rule charters, such as our County, were required to create new or reestablish previously abolished constitutional offices. In Nov. 2024, County residents elected the new constitutional officers, which assumed their role on Jan. 7, 2025.
The Clerk of the Court and Comptroller was the only constitutional office in our County prior to Jan. 7, 2025. However, under the Miami-Dade County Charter, the Finance Department was headed by a finance director co-appointed by the Mayor and the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. The responsibility to serve as the custodian of County funds was previously performed by the Miami-Dade County Finance Department. Due to Amendment 10 and new State legislation, most of the Miami-Dade County Finance Department functions were transferred to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Prior to Jan. 7, 2025, Miami-Dade County had an elected property appraiser, but this office was not entirely independent of the County. The other three offices - Miami-Dade Police, Elections, and Tax Collector – were previously County departments.
Contact Us
Management and Budget
David ClodfelterDirector
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street,
22nd Floor
Miami, FL 33128
305-375-5143
