West Palm Beach- For the seventh consecutive year, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
Governing Board acted to unburden Florida taxpayers. The nine-person Board championed an annual budget in which residents pay the same amount of property taxes as last year or, in some cases, slightly less than last year.
"The Governing Board is committed to fiscal discipline while ensuring the District's budget meets all the necessary public service requirements to protect and improve South Florida's water resources," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "
By limiting operating costs, administrative overhead and non-mission related projects, the Governing Board proudly continues its
tradition of not raising taxes."
The Governing Board locked in a rate reduction that compensates for the increases in property values measured by property appraisers in the 16 counties represented by the Governing Board. This keeps the actual amount of taxes paid by existing property owners the same as last year.
The property tax revenue collected, along with state and federal funding, will pay for programs in the 2017-2018 budget including:
- Providing flood control and hurricane response (including sufficient emergency and capital reserves);
- Improving water quality and implementing projects to restore the Everglades;
- Meeting ongoing water supply and water resource development needs;
- Administering streamlined regulatory programs;
- Meeting ongoing debt service payments, with no new additional debt proposed.
- Completing ongoing Everglades Restoration projects.
The Governing Board will finalize its tax assessments and budget during two public hearings on Sept. 14 and 26.
