SFWMD Governing Board Passes 2017-2018 Budget Protecting Environment, Families and Taxpayers

Sept. 26, 2017

West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board tonight unanimously approved the District's $758.3 million budget for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year that begins Oct. 1.

"This budget improves South Florida's flood control system and ensures critical maintenance work is properly funded," said Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "In addition to achieving our primary function, this Board approved the 2017-2018 budget because it continues to protect the environment by advancing science-based restoration work, while providing relief to the taxpayer through a reduction."

The Governing Board passed a "rolled back" property tax rate that takes advantage of the increases in property values to generate the same amount of tax revenue as last year with the exception of revenue generated by new construction. The reduced rate for the 15 counties of the Okeechobee Basin is $31 for every $100,000 of taxable value, down from $33.07. The reduced tax rate for the Big Cypress Basin in Collier County is $25.45 for every $100,000 of taxable value, down from $26.95. The budget is also funded by $309 million in state funding.