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District reduces tax rate for sixth year, funds major projects in $142.5 million budget

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From the St. John's River Water Management District

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board on Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2018-2019 budget, which reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a sixth consecutive year. The $142.5 million budget continues to provide significant funds for water resource protection and cost-share projects to ensure sustainable water resources, increase water conservation and protect water quality in springs and other priority water bodies.

The tentative 0.2562 millage rate would result in nearly $87 million in revenue toward a total $142.5 million budget for the fiscal year 2018‒2019, which begins Oct. 1, 2018. The budget is also funded through state, federal and other district sources (including timber sales, cattle leases, interest earnings, and permit fees).

The millage rate adopted by the board is approximately 6 percent less than the current year’s tax rate.

Under a 0.2562 millage rate — 25.62 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value — the owner of a $200,000 house with a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $38.43 in the coming year in property taxes to the district.

The budget will fund the district’s major programs, including water supply planning, priority water body, and springs restoration, and continued cost-share partnerships.

Budget highlights include:

  • More than $54.92 million in cooperative funding, with up to $3.5 million specifically to support water projects in economically disadvantaged rural communities and for innovative technologies, as well as springs and priority water body protection and restoration, water conservation initiatives with public water suppliers, and projects to enhance the reuse of reclaimed water.
  • $3.93 million in state funds for Lake Apopka projects, including enhancements to the marsh flow-way system.
  • $3 million in legislative funds for the Doctors Lake Nutrient Reduction Projects.
  • $8.13 million in legislative funds for the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project to provide aquifer recharge in northeast Florida.

The final budget will be available online after Oct. 5, 2018, on the District’s website, www.sjrwmd.com.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the district and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The district encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Maitland, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.

St. Johns River Water Management District

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