FRS and DROP Help for Putnam County Public Employees

Putnam County is rural, and public jobs are a big part of the local economy. That makes the county’s FRS employers especially important to a lot of families around Palatka, Interlachen and Crescent City. We meet Putnam clients by phone, by Zoom, 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 Putnam County

These Putnam 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.

• Putnam County School Board (Putnam County School District), plus Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences and Putnam Edge High School
• Putnam County Board of County Commissioners, plus the Clerk of Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector
• Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
• St. Johns River Water Management District, headquartered in Palatka, one of the area’s largest employers
• St. Johns River State College, an FRS-participating state college with a Palatka campus

State agency employees working in the county (for example, Department of Corrections, FDOT, Department of Health and DCF) are FRS members too.¹

Water Management District and state employees

Because the St. Johns River Water Management District is based in Palatka, Putnam has more special-district employees than most rural counties. State agency staff working locally, such as Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation or Department of Children and Families employees, are FRS members too.

In a smaller county, coworkers often share advice that’s out of date, like the old 60-month DROP limit. The current limit for most members is 96 months, and eligible K-12 instructional staff may be able to go up to 120.

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 with the Water Management District. Does DROP work the same for me?

If you’re in the FRS Pension Plan, yes. The same DROP rules apply to special-district employees as to school and county staff. Your membership class and enrollment date set when you can start.

Do you charge for the first meeting?

No. The first review is free and takes about 30 minutes.

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 Putnam 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.