Board agrees to pursue staged public process on dedicated stormwater funding; questions remain on method and coverage

Manatee County staff asked the board to confirm whether it wants to pursue a dedicated stormwater funding program and, if so, to authorize a staged public process focused on a small number of policy decisions at a time. Commissioners broadly supported continuing the work but raised fundamental questions about the funding mechanism, geographic coverage, equity, coordination with municipalities and state agencies, and how improvements would affect outflows and water quality.

Public Works director Chad Butso framed the request as a measured, incremental process meant to avoid the shortcomings of an earlier 2018–19 effort that produced significant public resistance. "I am trying to say that, incrementally, I have hypothetically summarized the intentions of categories of some extremely major decisions that truly are policy decisions that lead staff to a point by midsummer next year to be able to truly try to bring you a useful program...and I'm looking for that support through this quick presentation," he said.

Why it matters

Commissioners and staff tied the proposal to repeated flooding, water-quality concerns and long-term maintenance shortfalls. A dedicated funding source could create a predictable revenue stream for maintenance and capital projects aimed at reducing flood risk and improving water quality, but it would also impose a county charge on property owners unless the board chooses a more targeted option.

Major discussion points

- Collection mechanism: Staff discussed several collection options — a countywide fee charged as a monthly or annual utility, a special assessment mechanism such as an MSBU (Municipal Services Benefit Unit), or a millage — and noted each approach carries different legal and operational constraints and fairness questions.

- Geographic coverage/basins: Commissioners and staff discussed aligning funding and projects to watershed boundaries rather than commission districts so that assessments or fees match the areas that benefit from stormwater improvements.

- Exemptions and credits: The board reviewed common policy choices such as credits for on‑site stormwater treatment, exemptions for specific property classes (nonprofits, government properties) and treatment of municipal areas that already levy their own stormwater fees.

- Coordination and environmental impacts: Commissioners asked that staff explicitly evaluate where stormwater improvement outflows will go and how proposed solutions (including large-scale dredging or discharge to tidal systems) could affect downstream water quality and estuary health. One commissioner cautioned against dredging and said state rules requiring off-site storage or injection may cause unintended consequences.

Board reaction and next steps

Commissioner Bearden framed two near-term options — a stormwater utility fee (area- or impervious-surface based) or localized special-assessment MSBUs — and said those approaches could be structured so only parcels in a drainage basin pay. Commissioner Phelps said she is opposed to a countywide fee charged to all residents and urged exploring reallocations in the county budget and developer responsibilities; Commissioner Feltz urged aligning decisions to watershed boundaries and stressed urgency ahead of the next storm season.

Chad Butso said staff will proceed with more public engagement, technical analysis and incremental policy papers that answer detailed questions (who pays, credits, exemptions, level of service, and revenue estimates) and will return to the board for successive decisions. Several commissioners said they want targeted public outreach and clear, written explanations of how the fee or assessment would affect individual properties.

Ending

The board signaled a consensus to continue work on a dedicated stormwater funding approach and asked staff to develop the next round of policy options and outreach materials, to be considered in upcoming board meetings. No formal vote was taken during the work session.