Independent performance audit finds Tampa Bay Water 'very high‑functioning,' issues 11 recommendations
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Summary
Consultants told the board the 2025 performance audit found strong governance and operations but listed 11 recommendations across staffing/succession, IT consolidation, KPIs and asset management; staff said they will return with implementation timing and tracking.
An independent performance audit and management study presented to the board concluded that Tampa Bay Water is a "very high‑functioning organization" while identifying opportunities to strengthen resilience and efficiency.
"What we really found during the study is this is a very high functioning organization," the lead presenter said, and consultants grouped 11 recommendations into workload/structure, technology and process, succession planning and career development, strategic planning and governance, and culture/communication.
Notable recommendations included creating overlapping employment strategies for high‑risk positions, formalizing knowledge retention and off‑boarding processes, exploring shared service agreements with member governments, consolidating overlapping IT systems (with a focus on HR and finance), formalizing an annual AI policy review and implementing a robust asset management program integrating GIS and the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Board members pressed on implementation details: commissioners asked for cost savings estimates from system consolidation, metrics to track succession planning progress, and more regular financial briefings to member governments. Management said some recommendations are already underway, others will be incorporated into the next strategic plan, and staff will return with an implementation plan and a proposed tracking cadence.