NAVIGATING THE NEW REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED FROM HB 53

By June 30, 2022, and every five years thereafter, each county, municipality, or special district providing wastewater or stormwater services is required to develop a needs analysis for its jurisdiction over the subsequent 20 years.

Counties must compile the local reports (including their own) and submit them to EDR and the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection by July 31, 2022.

EDR must evaluate the compiled documents for the purpose of developing a statewide analysis for inclusion in the annual assessment due January 1, 2023.

The requirements include two separate needs assessments. For additional information visit EDR’s dedicated webpage including the Excel templates for submissions.

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS

By June 30, 2022, and every five years thereafter, each county, municipality, or special district providing wastewater services is required to develop a needs analysis for its jurisdiction over the subsequent 20 years. In projecting such needs, each local government must include:

  • A detailed description of the facilities used to provide wastewater services.
  • The number of current and projected connections and residents served calculated in five-year increments.
  • The current and projected service area for wastewater services.
  • The current and projected cost of providing wastewater services calculated in five-year increments.
  • The estimated remaining useful life of each facility or its major components.
  • The most recent five-year history of annual contributions to, expenditures from, and balances of any capital account for maintenance or expansion of any facility or its major components.
  • The local government’s plan to fund the maintenance or expansion of any facility or its major components. The plan must include historical and estimated future revenues and expenditures with an evaluation of how the local government expects to close any projected funding gap.

Each municipality or special district must submit its needs analysis, as well as the methodology and any supporting data necessary to interpret the results, to the county within which the largest portion of its service area is located. Each county must compile all analyses submitted to it into a single document and include its own analysis in the document. The county must file the compiled document with the coordinator of EDR no later than July 31, 2022, and every five years thereafter.

The statute specifies that local governments in rural areas of opportunity are subject to conducting analyses of wastewater systems, unless the requirements would create an undue economic hardship for the local government. Despite this exemption, the Florida Association of Counties encourages all local governments to conduct analyses to demonstrate critical needs in their county.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS

By June 30, 2022, and every five years thereafter, each county, municipality, or special district providing a stormwater management program or stormwater management system is required to develop a needs analysis for its jurisdiction over the subsequent 20 years. In projecting such needs, each local government must include:

  • A detailed description of the stormwater management program or system and its facilities and projects.
  • The number of current and projected residents served calculated in five-year increments.
  • The current and projected service area for the stormwater management program or system.
  • The current and projected cost of providing services calculated in five-year increments.
  • The estimated remaining useful life of each facility or its major components.
  • The most recent five-year history of annual contributions to, expenditures from, and balances of any capital account for maintenance or expansion of any facility or its major components.
  • The local government’s plan to fund the maintenance or expansion of any facility or its major components. The plan must include historical and estimated future revenues and expenditures with an evaluation of how the local government expects to close any projected funding gap.

The statute requires each municipality or special district to submit its needs analyses, as well as the methodology and any supporting data necessary to interpret the results, to the county within which the largest portion of its stormwater management program or stormwater management system is located.

Each county must compile all analyses submitted to it into a single document and include its own analysis in the document. The county must file the compiled document with the Secretary of DEP and the coordinator of EDR no later than July 31, 2022, and every five years thereafter.

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC & DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH: STORMWATER & WASTEWATER 20 YEAR NEEDS ANALYSES

 

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