South Florida Water Management District proposes $1.2 billion budget for 2020-21

The tax rate residents pay for state water management will be slightly lower next year, but some homeowners may pay more if their property appraisal recently increased.

The South Florida Water Management District plans to have a $1.2 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, and district officials are seeking a property tax rate of $26.75 for every $100,000 of taxable value to help pay for it.

Under the proposed tax rate shown to district board members Thursday, the owner of a $250,000 house with the standard $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $53.50 in taxes to the district in fiscal year 2020-21.

For the current fiscal year, the district has a budget of $972.3 million and a property tax rate of $27.95 for every $1,000 of taxable value, or $55.90 on a $250,000 home with a homestead exemption.

Here's where the $1.2 billion will go:

• $759 million (62%): Land acquisition, restoration and public works
• $335 million (27%): Operations and maintenance
• $68.4 million (6%): Water resources planning and monitoring
• $22.3 million (2%): Regulations
• $1.2 million (less than 1%): Outreach

Executive Director Drew Bartlett told the board the budget includes money for over 130 projects to improve water quality, reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River and send more water south to the Everglades.

The budget also includes money to double the python removal program, which has already taken more than 3,500 invasive Burmese pythons out of the Everglades.

Here's where the $1.2 billion will come from:

• State sources: $549 million (45%)
• Fund balance: $316.7 million (26%)
• Property taxes: $228.3 million (23%)
• Revenues: $46.2 million (4%)
• Agriculture privilege tax: $11 million (1%)
• Federal sources: $9.4 million (1%)

The board is expected to approve the budget and property tax rate during a meeting at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 22.

Tyler Treadway is an environment reporter who specializes in issues facing the Indian River Lagoon. Support his work on TCPalm.com.  Contact him at 772-221-4219 and tyler.treadway@tcpalm.com.