Columbia County staff told the board that the North Florida Water Utility Authority is scheduled to assume operation and maintenance of county water facilities on Oct. 1 and that the transition raises short‑term funding and staffing questions.
Staff said the authority will begin operations Oct. 1 and that an initial proposed budget anticipated Columbia and Suwannee counties sharing a projected shortfall 50/50; staff estimated Columbia County’s contribution would be about $625,000 in the next fiscal year to support the authority’s early operations while a planned rate study proceeds. The authority’s long-term goal is to fund operations through rates.
County utility employees (four positions noted in the transcript as utility operations staff) will transfer to the authority; staff said those employees will remain in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) but that other benefits will depend on decisions the authority makes and may mirror county or neighboring-county benefit packages.
Staff emphasized that the authority intends to expand and pursue regional funding opportunities — including DEP and state funding for recharge projects — and that consolidating utility operations regionally can open additional funding sources for infrastructure investments.
Board members asked whether the authority would assume any existing debt tied to transferred assets. Staff said debt would be assigned to assets if the county divests them and that the authority’s initial role is operations and maintenance; asset transfer and debt allocation would be addressed later in the divestiture process.
Staff said certain projects already under contract will need coordinated completion and that the October transition is intended to be gradual, with the authority taking over billing, collections and daily operations while outstanding projects are finished under prior arrangements.