Pasco County residents will be paying a higher stormwater fee, following a Sept. 19 vote by Pasco County commissioners to increase the rate.
Beginning in 2018, the annual fee will increase from $57 to $95 — a 67 percent increase.
A previous increase approved two years ago added $10 to the fee, raising the rate from $47 to $57.
Commissioners were divided over raising the fee during two workshops earlier this year, but they gave tentative approval to the increase to meet a deadline for providing tax information to the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office.
There was some hope the increase wouldn’t be needed, or could be reduced, if state funds came through for several proposed drainage projects.
That didn’t pan out.
Only two projects, for a total of about $1 million, were included in the 2018 state budget, and both of those were vetoed.
So, the higher fees are intended to support projects that can ease the county’s chronic flooding issues.
There’s no doubt that Pasco residents have seen their share of flooding in the last two years, and most recently endured the wind and rain from Hurricane Irma.
County staff members previously told county commissioners of a backlog of 93 years of service and maintenance to clean drainage culverts. More projects for repairs and other services also would take decades. Total costs for all projects could add up to about $300 million.
The increased fee will give the county about $25 million for engineering and design of 10 priority capital projects, and for cleaning, replacing and maintenance of culverts and swales.
Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, is being asked to contribute half of an estimated $38 million in construction costs for the capital projects.
Hurricane Irma is only the latest to add to Pasco’s flooding issues.
Tropical Storm Hermine in 2016 and torrential summer rains in 2015 caused extensive flooding to Pasco County homes. Much of the damage was in New Port Richey, Port Richey and Elfers, though some areas of central and east Pasco also saw flooding.
In separate votes, county commissioners also approved special assessments related to the purchase of two former golf courses in the Magnolia Valley and Timber Oaks subdivisions.
The purchases centered on easing flooding in those areas by creating additional drainage capacity.
However, Magnolia Valley and Timber Oaks residents through the special assessments will pay a share of the purchase prices.
Magnolia Valley residents will pay $28; Timber Oaks residents, about $61.
Magnolia Valley resident Judy Osteen spoke during public comment against the fee.
“You’ve selected a few people to pay for a project that the whole county is going to enjoy,” Osteen said. “That to me is the county dictating to a certain amount of people for a project they want done.”
Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said homeowners’ property values would benefit from the county’s efforts.
Published September 27, 2017
