From Clermont to Tavares to Umatilla, Lake County has a fast-growing public workforce. We help Lake County employees understand DROP and get their retirement paperwork right, by Zoom, by phone, or in person at our DeBary office.
We know FRS. We help you understand DROP, check your forms and dates before anything is filed, and connect you with a licensed financial professional when you need one. We can’t promise any outcome, but we can help make sure nothing gets missed.
FRS employers in Lake County
These Lake County employers appear on the FRS list of participating employers for 2026-27.1 If yours is on it, your job is likely FRS-covered, but always confirm your plan in FRS Online.
- Lake County School Board (Lake County Schools), plus the Mascotte, Minneola and Spring Creek charter schools
- Lake County Board of County Commissioners, plus the Clerk of Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Cities and towns: Tavares (police, fire and general employees), Groveland (police and fire), Minneola (fire and general), Fruitland Park (police and general), Umatilla (general), and the Towns of Astatula and Montverde
- Lake-Sumter State College
- Lake County Water Authority
State agency employees working in the county (for example, Department of Corrections, FDOT, Department of Health and DCF) are FRS members too.1
City coverage in Lake County is uneven
Lake County cities handle FRS very differently. Tavares covers police, fire and general staff in FRS, while Groveland is listed only for its police and fire employees. A firefighter in Minneola and a clerk in Groveland can be in completely different systems, so start by confirming yours.
Lake County Schools staff often ask us about the K-12 extension and about timing a DROP end date to the school year. That’s covered in What Is DROP?.
The deadlines that can’t be undone
- Your benefit payment option becomes permanent once your first payment is cashed or credited to DROP.4
- After your DROP end date, you can’t work for any FRS employer for six calendar months, paid or unpaid. Doing so can void your retirement.2
- FRS must receive your DROP payout form (DP-PAYT) within 60 days of termination, or the balance is paid as a lump sum with 20% withheld.3
Read the full guide: What Is DROP? · FRS Pension Plan vs. Investment Plan
How we meet
- In person at our office: 301 N Pine Meadow Dr, DeBary, FL 32713
- By phone: (850) 296-8828
- On Zoom, so you can share your FRS statement on screen
Hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM to 7 PM, and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM. Bring your latest FRS statement or estimate, any DROP forms you’ve received, and your questions.
Frequently asked questions
I’m a Groveland police officer. Am I in FRS?
FRS lists the City of Groveland as participating for its police and fire employees, so most likely yes. Check FRS Online or your pay stub to confirm your plan and membership class.
Can we meet on Zoom in the evening?
Yes. We meet Monday through Friday until 7 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM.
What happens if I miss the DROP payout deadline?
If FRS doesn’t receive Form DP-PAYT within 60 days of your DROP termination date, it is required by law to pay your balance as a lump sum with 20% federal tax withheld.3
Book your free Lake County FRS review
In about 30 minutes, we’ll go through your dates and forms with you so you know what to file and when. There’s no pressure and no sales pitch.
Book your free review · Call (850) 296-8828 · Contact us
Final benefit decisions are made by the FRS Division of Retirement. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
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FRS, Participating Employers for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (Rev. 09/2026): https://frs.fl.gov/forms/part-emp.pdf
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FRS, Deferred Retirement Option Program guide: https://frs.fl.gov/forms/drop_guide.pdf
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FRS, Preparing to Terminate DROP: https://frs.fl.gov/forms/Preparing_to_terminate_DROP.pdf
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FRS, Ready. Set. Retire.: https://frs.fl.gov/forms/ready_set_retire.pdf
