The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) Governing Board on Sept. 27 adopted a budget of $47,389,589 for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. This figure represents a 16 percent reduction over last year’s budget. The board also approved a millage rate of 0.4143, which provides $580,000 in savings to taxpayers in comparison with last year.
Under the millage rate, those who own property with a taxable value of $100,000 will pay $41.43 in property taxes to the District. Owners of property with a taxable value of $150,000 will pay $62.14 to the District.
The budget will fund projects that reflect the District’s core mission to protect water resources, while relying on existing available funding levels.
Highlights of the budget include:
Water supply assessments in order to develop water supply plans.
The establishment and implementation of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for rivers and spring systems.
The Suwannee River Partnership cost-share program with dairy, poultry, and row crop farmers in the Middle Suwannee and Santa Fe basins.
The Ichetucknee Partnership (TIP) involving local, voluntary, and incentive based initiatives to support wise springshed management of the Ichetucknee Springshed.
The digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps program through funding provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
The District’s land management program which includes funds for land management of acquired lands.
The hydrologic, groundwater, and surfacewater monitoring network which allows the District to monitor groundwater and surfacewater levels and quality.
Efforts to improve, update, and enhance the District’s commitment to Information Technology in the form of computing facilities, software and data management tools, Geographic Information System, and Internet services to the public.
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