Proposed Changes to Big Cypress Basin Governance and Tax Use

The Frame

What this does

Property owners in the Big Cypress would see a legal guarantee that their local basin-specific tax dollars are spent only on flood control and water projects within their own county, rather than being diverted elsewhere in the district.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Big Cypress Basin property owners

Their property tax payments are legally restricted to fund projects only within their specific county of residence.

South Florida Water Management District

The district is required to redraw basin boundaries and adjust its tax allocation procedures to comply with the new county-specific spending mandate.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill proposes updates to the Big Cypress governing board membership and requires the South Florida Water Management District to redraw basin boundaries based on a 2021 study. It also mandates that property taxes collected within the basin be spent exclusively on projects and flood control operations within the specific counties where those taxes were collected.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

Property owners in the Big Cypress would see a legal guarantee that their local basin-specific tax dollars are spent only on flood control and water projects within their own county, rather than being diverted elsewhere in the district.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my property taxes increase under this bill?

The bill maintains the existing cap on -specific taxes at 1 mill per county.

How will the basin boundaries change?

The district must adopt the scientific boundaries recommended in the 2021 Big Cypress Boundary Delineation study, provided the county has at least 25% of its land within that boundary.