Gulfport, Florida, could need about 170 years to fix its growing stormwater and flooding problems if it continues relying on its current funding system.
An engineering report estimates that the city needs around $85 million for drainage improvements, but only a small part of its stormwater fee income is available for construction projects.
The estimate, prepared by engineering and consulting firm Stantec, has raised concerns among residents who say their streets already flood during ordinary rainstorms. City officials are now looking at grants, loans, higher fees, and other funding sources to speed up the work.
Flooding from Hurricane Idalia in Gulfport, Florida on Aug. 30, 2023.Photographer: Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno/Bloomberg via Getty Images
According to a report by Tampa Bay 28, Stantec found that Gulfport’s current funding could not cover the cost of the needed improvements for roughly 170 years. The city is now searching for ways to shorten that timeline and address its drainage problems sooner.
For many residents, the issue is already part of daily life. Some say they have to walk through floodwater after regular rainfall, while others have noticed that the problem has become worse in recent years.
Jill Brock, a Gulfport resident, said several streets in the city flood easily, even when the rain is not especially heavy.
“A little surprising sometimes…I’m like I gotta walk through water to get to my car,” Brock said.
“When you hear on the news it’s a heavy rain, you’re like, alright, gotta keep my eyes…gotta be prepared. Gotta be prepared and aware,” she added.
Ashley Wix, another Gulfport resident, said the flooding has become worse since Hurricane Helene. She explained that even small amounts of rain can cause water to build up because the drainage system does not seem to move water away properly.
“It floods just in a small rain, usually. It seems all of our drains are clogged. It doesn’t have anywhere to go; it’s just really old and not substantial enough to carry the weight of our growing community,” Wix said.
Wix also questioned why the city’s drainage system had not received more attention before the problem became this serious.
“I feel like the infrastructure should have been something that had more attention in the past and leading up to now…instead of saying, ‘Uh oh, let’s do something,’” she said.
The size of the problem became clearer during the Oct. 6 City Council meeting, when Andrew Burnham, a vice president at Stantec, presented possible ways to pay for the needed improvements, per The Gabber.
Gulfport collects about $1.5 million each year through stormwater fees. However, most of that money goes toward operating costs and employee expenses. Only around $500,000 remains for actual improvements.
With an estimated $85 million needed for stormwater projects, the amount currently available is far from enough.
“If you think about that in the context of an $85 million need, this would take us 170 years to fund this with our current rate mechanisms that we have in place today,” Burnham said.
The city’s stormwater system is made up of about 120,000 feet of drain lines, 211 stormwater inlets, catch basins, culverts, transmission lines, retention and detention ponds, and seven outfalls.
According to Hoodline, a drainage study found that low road elevations and aging pipes are among the reasons some areas experience flooding during moderate and heavy storms.
The study also identified six major projects that could help reduce flooding. These include drainage improvements near the city’s Police and Fire complex and work to reduce tidal flooding near the Gulfport Marina.
The estimated cost of individual projects ranges from $1.5 million to $20 million.
Burnham also warned that the recommended projects might not address every stormwater problem in the city. The estimates are based on current costs, which could increase before construction begins.
Beyond preventing floods, the improvements could also help protect local waterways. Rainwater running across streets and lawns can carry dirt and pollution into nearby bodies of water.
Gulfport officials are considering several ways to raise the money needed for the improvements.
During the presentation, Burnham recommended that the city pursue grants through Florida’s Resilient Florida program. He also suggested working with Pinellas County’s local mitigation strategy process to identify more funding opportunities.
However, he explained that grants alone would not solve the city’s financial problem.
“I think there’s opportunities there, but they are not going to singularly be able to solve this funding challenge that we have in front of us,” Burnham said.
For larger projects, the city may need to borrow money. One example is a proposed water quality pond in West Gulfport, which could cost around $20 million.
Burnham pointed to Florida’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund as another possible option. This program may offer low-interest loans, zero-interest loans, or partial loan forgiveness to eligible projects.
The city could use stormwater fees or Penny for Pinellas sales-tax funds to help repay the borrowed money.
However, borrowing would also mean setting aside part of the city’s future income for debt payments. Gulfport already uses Penny for Pinellas funds to help pay loans for sanitary sewer improvements.
Another option involves raising stormwater fees. Stantec estimated that if Gulfport increased its fees to levels similar to those in St. Petersburg or Dunedin, the city could collect about $1.4 million more each year.
Under the current rate plan, stormwater fee increases are limited to $1 per year through fiscal year 2028. City leaders have not yet approved any major changes to the existing rates.
With an estimated $85 million in improvements needed and only about $500,000 currently available each year for construction, Gulfport faces a major funding challenge.
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