Fiscal Year 2025 SWFWMD budget funds water resources projects

The 2025 Fiscal Year (FY) runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.

Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)

On Sept. 24, 2024, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board adopted a $231.6 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025, including $86.6 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and water district grants for water resources projects.

The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the water district’s FY2025 budget include:
• $76.5 million for development of alternative water supplies to ensure an adequate supply of water resources for all existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses.
• $18.9 million for the management and improvement of critical flood control and water conservation structures, canals, culverts and levees.
• $10.2 million for surface water restoration initiatives and water quality improvement projects to treat stormwater runoff before discharging directly or indirectly to water bodies.
• $6.1 million to manage approximately 460,000 acres of conservation lands for the statutorily‑mandated purposes of protecting and restoring their natural condition and, where appropriate, providing for compatible recreational uses for the public.

Through cooperative funding partnerships, the water district will leverage funds for a total regional investment of approximately $161 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resource management projects.

For the 13th year in a row, the water district’s governing board has adopted a millage rate equal to or less than the rolled-back millage rate, for a cumulative rate reduction of 51%. The adopted FY2025 millage rate is 0.1909 mill, 6.6% lower than the current fiscal year, which will help lessen the tax burden for Florida residents by saving taxpayers $9.5 million in property taxes.

For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the water district tax would be $19.09 a year, or about $1.59 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.