Winter Haven lays out $335M five‑year water plan; seeks $24.7M in initial utility debt

City Manager and Winter Haven Water Director Gary Hubbard outlined the water department’s fiscal 2025–26 budget and a multi‑year capital program during a special city commission workshop, saying the package anticipates borrowing now and additional debt later to fund major treatment and production projects.

The City Manager said the figures “are not new information” and noted they were included in a budget presentation two weeks earlier and in the city’s tentative budget. Gary Hubbard, director of Winter Haven Water, told the commission staff is planning a phased borrowing strategy and timing the market to get the lowest cost: "We're trying to do is get the best interest rate situation for the city over time," he said.

The presentation laid out a $37.3 million capital ask for the coming fiscal year and projected roughly $335 million in utility expenditures over a five‑year period. The largest single item is a proposed Water Resource Facility (also described as the long‑term rehabilitation/expansion of Wastewater Treatment Plant 3) estimated at about $173 million.

Why it matters: the plan drives water and sewer service investments that city staff say are necessary for community safety, regulatory compliance and growth. Staff said the city’s fee schedule and a 2024 rate study were designed to produce revenue sufficient to cover planned debt service.

Major financial points and timing

- Proposed immediate debt in the FY 2025–26 budget: $24,700,000 (presented as anticipated debt proceeds). City staff said that number may be amended if the commission approves larger issues later in the fiscal year. - Planned near‑term bond window: staff forecast bringing a recommendation in late 2025 or early 2026 for a bond issuance likely in the $60–$80 million range to accelerate…