River Valley Water Management District seeks $9.89 million, emphasizes flood-control and rapid-response role

Drew Robertson, executive director of the River Valley Water Management District, presented the district's FY2027 budget request to the subcommittee and described the agency's role in flood control and emergency response.

Robertson said the district's FY2027 request is $9,890,000 (the Legislative Budget Request listed slightly different totals) and walked senators through four program areas: flood control, recreation, economic development and levee/tributary maintenance. He described the district as a host agency for a portion of the Tom Bigby Waterway and said it does not rely on state operating dollars: "We don't take a penny from the state," he said, adding revenue is generated through county millage and other local mechanisms.

Why this matters: Robertson said the district's locally held funds and equipment provide rapid-response capability for counties facing flood or erosion emergencies; the agency also pursues federal matches for emergency watershed protection and sometimes returns properties to counties when locally appropriate.

Questions and clarity on finances: Committee members asked why member-contribution lines looked larger in the budget; Robertson said the district deliberately maintains reserves, places funds in CDs and holds money for emergency readiness rather than planning to spend the full $9 million annually. He described a model that aims to return value to counties and to be positioned for emergency work when asked by local officials.

Next steps: Senators thanked the district for its service; no formal action was taken during the hearing.