County Moves Forward With Stormwater Funding Mechanism

Posted Sunday, April 28, 2019 12:00 am

Staff Report

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Commission moved forward this week with a long-discussed stormwater tax/fee by authorizing the public works department to engage in a stormwater rate study.

Chad Butzow, Manatee County's interim director of public works. told commissioners that the study would:

Fully measure impervious areas to get definitive answers on all non-single family lots
Provide accurate determination of the total number of equivalent residential units in unincorporated Manatee County
Analyze the cost impacts of areas that have stormwater systems/private roads

The department would then present the results of the study to the BOCC before proceeding with drafting and implementing ordinances. Butzow stressed that conducting the would not obligate the board to implement its findings.

"What we got at our last work sessions was recommendations from our consultant, which was good, but we've not made any of those decisions: whether it's a tax, whether it's a fee, how much; none of that has been done," said Commissioner Betsy Benac. "Once we do have some ideas on that, that's when we really have to get that public input."

Board members said they hoped to be able to present a strong recommendation and plan to the public by September and invite input at that time.