On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board adopted a $256.2 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026, including $114.3 million in Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects.
The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2026 budget include:
- $102.9 million for development of alternative water supplies to ensure an adequate supply of water resources for all existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses.
- $14.2 million for the management and improvement of critical flood control and water conservation structures, canals, culverts and levees.
- $9.9 million for surface water restoration initiatives and water quality improvement projects to treat stormwater runoff before discharging directly or indirectly to water bodies.
- $7.5 million for watershed management planning and implementation of projects to address potential and existing flooding issues.
Through cooperative funding partnerships, the District will leverage funds for a total regional investment of approximately $217 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resource management projects.
For the 14th year in a row, the District’s Governing Board has adopted a millage rate equal to or less than the rolled-back millage rate, for a cumulative rate reduction of 53%. The adopted FY2026 millage rate is 0.1831 mill, 4.1% lower than the current fiscal year, which will help lessen the tax burden for Florida residents by saving taxpayers more than $5.9 million in property taxes.
For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $18.31 a year, or about $1.53 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.