Role of the Clerk

Established in 1838 by the Florida Constitution, the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller (Clerk) is an elected official responsible for safeguarding public funds and protecting public records. The Clerk’s Office performs 926 different constitutional and statutory functions and duties. This number does not include the responsibilities required of the Clerk by Court Rule and Administrative Order. In addition to being the County Comptroller, the Clerk is also the Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Recorder, and Clerk to the Board of the County Commissioners (Board).

As the County Comptroller, the Clerk acts as the County Treasurer, Auditor, and Finance Officer, providing a check and balance on the County’s budget, revenue, and expenditures. Among other financial duties, the Clerk handles the investment of available County funds, provides financial reporting to the Board, processes accounts payable and payroll, provides accounting services to all departments under the Board of County Commissioners, pre–audits all County expenditures before payment, conducts internal post–audits to determine if financial controls are sufficient, and is responsible for the collection and enforcement of Tourist Tax.

As the Clerk of the Circuit Court,the Clerk is responsible for aiding in the judicial process and maintaining the integrity of the court records. Some of the Clerk’s responsibilities include processing all Civil and Criminal cases in the County, preparing court dockets, attending hearings and trials, collecting fines and fees, jury management, maintaining custody of all evidence and exhibits entered by the court, maintaining the court registry, auditing guardianship reports and child support payments, issuing marriage licenses, and processing passport applications.

As County Recorder, the Clerk is responsible for maintaining the County’s Official Records. Some of the Clerk’s duties as County Recorder include recording and indexing all deeds, mortgages, and other documents pertaining to real property in the County, recording and indexing all judgments, orders, and other documents pertaining to court cases in the County, processing tax deed applications and conducting sales, recording plats of subdivisions, and collecting and disbursing documentary stamp taxes and intangible taxes.

As Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, the Clerk serves as the custodian of the Board’s records. Among other duties, the Clerk attends meetings of the Board and other committees, produces, records, indexes, and distributes the official minutes of these meetings, maintains legal custody of the Official County Seal, and provides citizens a forum through the Value Adjustment Board to address complaints when they believe the Property Appraiser overvalued their property or improperly denied an exemption.