Hillsborough County receives updated stormwater rate study, staff recommends options to close a $41.8 million funding gap

Josh Bellotti, engineering and operations lead for Hillsborough County, presented the 2026 stormwater rate study and explained how consultant Raftelis incorporated Black & Veatch’s recommendations and projected CDBG-DR and other funding to size capital needs.

The study identified culvert replacement as the largest program need across the unincorporated county and proposed $61.6 million in annual capital funding. After accounting for projected revenue sources (including CDBG-DR and other grants) estimated at about $19.8 million annually, Raftelis calculated a remaining capital requirement of $41.8 million per year. Bellotti said the study also recommended increasing routine maintenance activity, estimating an additional $1.8 million annually to raise maintenance by 10% countywide.

The county’s stormwater fee is levied as a non-ad valorem assessment on property tax bills; Bellotti said operations and maintenance cannot be paid from CDBG-DR or certain grant funds and rely on the stormwater assessment and supplemental general-fund support. He described existing rate-relief measures, including multifamily and condominium assessments at one-third and a hardship program for qualifying low-income property owners.

In follow-up questions, commissioners pressed staff on timing and notice requirements. Staff said the board must set any rate change in time for tax-roll updates and that a summer public hearing—typically in August—with mailed notices in late June or early July would be required if rates are adjusted. No rate change was adopted at the meeting; the board accepted the study and staff sought direction on a rate range to inform public notices and the hearing schedule.

The board did not vote on a rate increase during the meeting; staff said it could defer or partially implement study recommendations and will return with draft ordinance language and public-notice timelines if the board provides a direction range.