Hernando County reviews $millions in FY26 capital projects; fleet facility, water projects draw heaviest debate

Hernando County staff, department directors and commissioners spent the morning of June 3 reviewing the proposed fiscal‑year 2026 capital improvement program (CIP), sorting projects by funding source and priority and debating which items should move forward into the FY26 budget.

Office of Management and Budget director Albert Bertram opened the workshop by explaining the CIP ranking, multi‑year projections and color‑coding by major funding source. “The construction projects for just as a brief overview, building construction projects incorporate the cost of both design and construction. Oftentimes, the design is in 1 year and the construction's in the following year,” Bertram told the board.

Utilities projects dominated the early portion of the spreadsheet: Gordon Otterdonk, utilities director, outlined ongoing and planned work including the Killian water plant upgrades (a new well and high‑service pump station), force‑main improvements for several corridors, the Hermosa pump station upgrade near Hernando Beach and a Centralia wells and 20‑inch transmission line to increase Spring Hill area potable supply. On permitting he said, “They…