Largo authorizes up to $26 million SRF loan for effluent project after debate over deep‑well injection

The Largo City Commission voted 6–1 on Sept. 16 to authorize borrowing up to $26,000,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s State Revolving Fund for an effluent discharge deep‑well injection project. City staff said the SRF loan is reimbursement‑based and the city will only borrow funds actually spent on the project.

City staff explained the ordinance authorizes submission of SRF loan applications, execution of loan documents and the establishment of pledged revenues to secure the loan. The presentation noted the city previously adopted a master bond resolution (Resolution 2369) to create the framework for borrowing in the wastewater fund and that the application would be submitted at the DEP SRF board meeting in November.

Commissioner Smith stated she would vote against the measure because of concerns about deep‑well injection; she said she would review materials staff shared including a video presentation from a regional planning council featuring academic analysis. “I have a major problem with that in the borrowing a little bit … it's more about the deep well injection,” she said.

Other commissioners supported the loan authorization as a financing method to move a previously discussed wastewater project forward. The commission also approved a companion resolution (Resolution 2441) to supplement the master bond resolution to permit the SRF transaction; the resolution passed 7–0. Staff said they have not yet submitted the application and will proceed to DEP in November.