A Brief History of Special Purpose Districts and Community Development Districts (CDDs)

Throughout the United States, special purpose districts, akin to Community Development Districts (CDDs), play a crucial role in providing essential service delivery infrastructure. These districts address various needs, including water management, drainage, fire control, road and bridge construction and maintenance, park and recreational facilities, mosquito control, port and inlet management, water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and streetlights. Their primary purpose is to serve areas that might not have access to these services through general-purpose municipal governments.

Nationwide, there are over 28,500 special districts, and within the State of Florida alone, there exist more than 700 independent special districts. Among these, 225 CDDs operate throughout Florida, specifically catering to newly developing communities like The Villages.

Community Development Districts (CDDs): A Public Non-Profit Entity

A Community Development District functions as a public non-profit unit of local government, specializing in providing the services mentioned above. As part of the local government structure, CDDs adhere to many of the same State Statutes that regulate cities and counties. Notably, these statutes cover areas such as ethics in government for elected Board of Supervisors, transparency through Government in the Sunshine laws (which mandate public decision-making), public records accessibility (allowing citizens to review district records), annual auditing by independent certified public accountants, and competitive bidding requirements for construction and maintenance contracts. These provisions collectively safeguard the interests of the community and ensure effective governance.

Currently, The Villages has 19 Districts

For more details on the different Districts in The Villages click HERE