On Tuesday, the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District adopted a FY2016-17 millage rate of 0.3317 mill, 4.9 percent lower than the current fiscal year. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $33 a year, or about $2.76 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017. The total FY2016-17 proposed budget for the District is $180.1 million.
The budget reflects the District's commitment to protect Florida's water resources and to improve Florida's economic vitality. All programs and projects advance the core mission of the District and are designed to provide the highest quality service to residents within the District.
The budget includes more than $67 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District projects. The District funds are leveraged with its partners' resulting in a total investment of more than $120 million for water resource management projects.
Other key budget highlights include $13.3 million for springs protection budgeted by the District leveraged with an additional $2.8 million from local cooperators for a total investment of $16.1 million, $10.4 million for stormwater improvement to reduce flood risk and protect our citizens and $6.9 million for the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program to reduce groundwater use and improve water quality impacted by agricultural practices.
The budget reflects the District's commitment to protect Florida's water resources and to improve Florida's economic vitality. All programs and projects advance the core mission of the District and are designed to provide the highest quality service to residents within the District.
The budget includes more than $67 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District projects. The District funds are leveraged with its partners' resulting in a total investment of more than $120 million for water resource management projects.
Other key budget highlights include $13.3 million for springs protection budgeted by the District leveraged with an additional $2.8 million from local cooperators for a total investment of $16.1 million, $10.4 million for stormwater improvement to reduce flood risk and protect our citizens and $6.9 million for the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program to reduce groundwater use and improve water quality impacted by agricultural practices.