HB 981 Summary - Wakulla County Airport Authority Act

• Creates the Wakulla County Airport Authority as an independent special district governed by a five-member board appointed by the Governor to own, operate, maintain, and improve the Wakulla County Airport.

• Authority members appointed by Governor from candidates nominated by a commission, must be county residents for prior 24 months, serve 4-year terms after inaugural staggered appointments, and receive travel/per diem expenses but no compensation.

• Authority prohibited from levying ad valorem taxes, imposing non-ad valorem assessments, imposing liens, or exercising eminent domain; Authority property and obligations are tax-exempt.

• Authority limited to maximum runway length of 2,707 feet and maximum width of 75 feet; must install 20-foot high by 100-foot wide landscape buffer if acquiring property along southern airport border.

• Act becomes effective upon passage and does not require Wakulla County to transfer the airport to the Authority; county may voluntarily expend funds and use personnel to assist the transition.