OUTSOURCING OR SELLING COUNTY DEBT

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · report

This legislative matter, File Number 261102, concerns a report on the feasibility of outsourcing or selling County debt. The report, introduced on 6/15/2026 and with an Agenda Date of 7/21/2026, analyzes the potential sale of approximately $41 million (8%) of the County's $525 million outstanding debt as of July 29, 2025. The debt includes non-citation items like emergency medical services and utility billing, as well as citation-related debt. The recommendation is to consider selling a portion of the debt to generate cash flow, with specific criteria to minimize risk. The report notes that selling citation-related debt is not recommended due to compliance requirements and potential negative impacts on constituents. It also discusses legal implications under Florida law and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, potential impacts on County programs and funding streams, and the loss of direct constituent support. The County has prior experience with outside collection agencies, with a list of potential providers provided. The report is a response to Resolution R-785-25, sponsored by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins.