Hendry County to keep most MSBU rates steady while reviewing East Rec assessment increase

HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. — Hendry County staff told commissioners on Monday they plan to keep most Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) assessments at current levels but are proposing an increase for the East Recreation (East Rec) MSBU and will return with more detailed options at a June workshop.

Special districts director Tommy Vaughn summarized the county's MSBU projects and budgets and told the board that "everything is being proposed to stay the same, with the exception of East Rec." He said replacement of playground equipment at Hookers Point Park and a fence at Bopelon Park are among projects the East Rec MSBU funds.

The discussion centered on how to allocate costs across about 4,857 assessed dwelling units in the East Rec MSBU, of which Vaughn said 1,519 are in the Central County Water Control District and 3,338 are in other unincorporated parts of eastern Hendry County. Vaughn told the board the current East Rec budget for 2024'25 is about $553,000 and that staff had proposed reductions to some improvement line items to manage a roughly $96,000 shortfall in the current year.

Commis…