St. Johns River District locks in $149m for future water projects

St. Johns River District locks in $149m for future water projectsThe St. Johns River Water Management District has unanimously committed $149.28 million in fund balance for specified future uses alongside adoption of its $228.46 million FY2026-27 budget. The largest named commitments are $27.15 million for Taylor Creek Reservoir and $25.75 million for the Black Creek Water Resource Development project.

The board unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-08, reserving $149,280,511 as committed fund balance for future budgets.

Alternative water supply commitments include $25,754,004 for Black Creek Water Resource Development and $6,633,945 for dispersed water storage at Fellsmere.

Taylor Creek Reservoir is allocated $27,145,229, while the C-10 Water Management Area has a $20,429,578 commitment.

The board also unanimously adopted a $228,459,641 FY2026-27 budget, including $123,749,228 for land acquisition, restoration and public works.

The St. Johns River Water Management District has set aside $149.28 million in committed fund balance for future water-resource projects and programmes, providing formal budget recognition for a pipeline that includes alternative water supply, reservoir works, aquifer recharge, restoration and lock-and-dam rehabilitation. The Governing Board unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-08 at its 18 September final budget hearing. The resolution commits, rather than appropriates, the balance for designated future purposes. Finance director Missy Licourt told the board that the amounts “are not an appropriation and can be redeployed for other purposes with appropriate future governing board action.” The largest individual commitment is $27.15 million for Taylor Creek Reservoir. Alternative water supply accounts for two further substantial allocations: $25.75 million for the Black Creek Water Resource Development project and $6.63 million for dispersed water storage at Fellsmere. The committed balance also includes $20.43 million for the C-10 Water Management Area, $13 million for lock and dam rehabilitations, and $11.45 million for the Regional Aquifer Recharge Project within the District. The latter is listed under the OFS Springs Prevention/Recovery Strategy. Other springs-related commitments comprise $5 million for the Wekiva Basin and $1.97 million for Silver Springs. For Indian River Lagoon protection, the district committed $1.05 million to Crane Creek M-1 Canal Flow Restoration in addition to the C-10 allocation. The resolution also earmarks $10.09 million for land management and acquisition in the Special Revenue Fund, $9.28 million for the Cooperative Projects Funding Program and $17.47 million as an economic-stabilisation reserve. The commitments were approved in parallel with the district's unchanged FY2026-27 final budget of $228.46 million. The budget includes $123.75 million for land acquisition, restoration and public works, $43.75 million for operation and maintenance of works and lands, and $22.96 million for water-resources planning and monitoring. Fixed capital outlay across all programmes totals $63.14 million, while cooperative funding totals $33.74 million. The board also retained its existing 0.1793-mill ad valorem tax rate, which is 3.82% above the 0.1727-mill rolled-back rate. Ad valorem taxes are budgeted to provide $123.39 million of FY2026-27 funding. The final budget covers the fiscal year beginning 1 October 2026 and authorises 555 full-time-equivalent positions.