Leaders at the district haven’t talked publicly about how Amendment 3 would hit their revenues. But internal estimates paint a bleak picture.
As Hurricane Helene barreled offshore Florida, water managers rushed to prevent floods by lowering Lake Tarpon in northern Pinellas County.
In December, they published a plan to deliver drinking water to 6 million residents over the next two decades.
And last week, as parts of Tampa Bay still grappled with extreme drought, those same officials voted to extend restrictions on when residents can water their lawns.
One governmental agency oversaw all of those decisions: the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Now, the district tasked with handling water needs across 16 counties could stand to lose millions in annual revenue if voters approve an amendment to cut property taxes this fall, sparking fears about the district’s ability to fight floods and oversee water supplies.
While district staff have been quiet about the looming impacts, internal estimates obtained by the Tampa Bay Times show more than $23 million in annual revenue could be in jeopardy by 2028, with that number rising each year to almost $54 million by 2032. For context: The district’s newly created annual budget for improving and managing flood-fighting canals, culverts and levees was about $28.5 million this year. Its total annual budget was $251 million.
“They’re basically taking the district to the point where they cannot do their statutory responsibilities,” said Sonny Vergara, who was the executive director of the district from 1997 to 2003.
Read the full news article on The Tampa Bay Times