Leon County approves uniform levy method for sewer assessments amid Lake Munson health concerns

The Leon County Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 10 to adopt resolutions using the uniform method of levy collection and enforcement for non‑ad valorem assessments tied to neighborhood sewer projects, measures the county said are necessary to collect readiness‑to‑serve and system charges from properties that lack metered accounts.

County staff told the board the measures apply to small sets of parcels that were inadvertently excluded from prior assessments and to properties in the Northeast Lake Munson project area. The county expects the collection method would apply to roughly 70 parcels in the Lake Munson project and said the full construction of that project will be completed early next year and turned over to the City of Tallahassee for operation. Staff also said the larger program could convert about 220 existing septic systems in the area.

The votes were contentious. Commissioner Caban and Commissioner Proctor both opposed the measures, with Caban saying the county should not be the entity collecting fines and criticizing the city’s ability to impose up to a 50% surcharge on sewer fees. Proctor said the county’s residents inside Capital Circle have been underserved by central sewer service, raised equity concerns and urged the board to pursue more study of public‑health impacts around Lake Munson.

County staff responded that the readiness‑to‑serve charge is standard practice when customers are not connected and that almost all connection costs are covered through the county’s grant support; staff cited typical connection costs of about $10,000 to $12,000 per property that are paid by grant funds and noted that the only charges the county cannot waive are ongoing usage fees. Staff clarified that residents will not be assessed until after they begin receiving sewer service and that property owners will be notified in advance of billing.

Commissioner Proctor repeatedly asked whether residents had been notified in advance of the proposed assessment method; staff said affected property owners will receive advance notice and public hearings will be held next summer for specific account activations. Proctor also urged the county to commission a health study of the Lake Munson area, citing community reports of long‑term sewer exposure and alleged elevated cancer rates; no health study was commissioned during the meeting.

Both measures passed 5–2. On item 24 (Bel Air/Anna Wood retrofit parcels) and item 25 (Northeast Lake Munson project area), the board approved staff’s Option 1 with Commissioners Caban and Proctor recorded as the dissenting votes. Staff said the ad valorem special assessment must be adopted by public hearing prior to Jan. 1 under Florida Statutes if the county intends to impose the special assessment for next year.

Next steps: staff will notify affected property owners about readiness‑to‑serve billing, hold required public hearings connected to account activation next summer, and continue project construction and handover to the City of Tallahassee.