Water district rolls back 2025 tax rate

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved a rollback of taxes for fiscal year 2025, according to a news release Tuesday.

The board agreed to a rolled-back millage rate of 0.1909 mill for the next fiscal year, 2025 budget — which could save taxpayers $9.5 million.

The millage rate is 6.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2043 mill, the release said.

For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $19.09 a year, or about $1.59 per month.

The total fiscal year 2025 proposed budget for the District is $231.6 million and includes $86.6 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants.

Through these cooperative funding partnerships, District funds will be leveraged resulting in a total regional investment of approximately $161 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resource management projects, according to the release. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.

The District will hold a tentative budget hearing at 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Tampa Office, located at 7601 U.S. 301.

The Governing Board will vote on the final budget at 5 p.m. Sept. 24, at the Tampa Office.