Commission adopts stormwater assessment rates for fiscal 2026

The City Commission adopted Resolution 2025-20 on Sept. 8 establishing the city's stormwater service-assessment rates for fiscal year 2026. Devin Schmidt, finance director, explained the city annually imposes non-ad valorem assessments to fund stormwater operation and maintenance. The assessment structure uses two tiers: Tier 1 is a flat per-parcel assessment while Tier 2 charges properties based on impervious surface area, with an equivalent-residential-unit (ERU) established at 3,813 square feet. Schmidt said the proposed rates for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025 would hold the existing tier structure with no changes to tier definitions: Tier 1 at $64.32 per tax parcel and Tier 2 at $119.43 per ERU. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. Why it matters: stormwater assessments fund operation, maintenance and capital work on the city's drainage infrastructure and appear as a non-ad valorem component on property tax bills. The rate-setting action establishes the local charge residents and properties will see on the coming fiscal-year bills. Next steps: the assessment will be processed as part of the tax-billing cycle and staff will continue to implement stormwater projects included in the adopted budget and CIP.