VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Flooding is still a significant issue for residents in parts of Volusia County, months after Hurricane Milton and county leaders estimate the community faces hundreds of millions of dollars in stormwater projects.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Council members voted to hold off on any increases to monthly fees until they could ask the legislature for help. The plan is to reduce Transform 386 funding for specific projects, ask the state to match the amount and then use that for future stormwater needs.
Read: The 8th annual ‘Elf Rappel’ at AdventHealth for Children is just in time for the holidays
Councilors admit waiting on the state is a gamble because there’s no guarantee they will get the funding.
However, residents like John Bailey, who lives along Taylor Road, believe it’s worth the wait and risk. At 85 years old, he can’t do much around his property anymore, so he has to hire help. Bailey said any extra costs to his monthly budget would be hard to handle.
Read: Anything to stay in business: How popular Central Florida restaurants innovate to survive
“Anything that will help us that doesn’t have to come out of our bank account!” said Bailey.
His property began flooding after Hurricane Ian in 2022 and has only worsened with each storm.
Read: Poinciana High School lockdown lifted, officials say
It could take a couple of months for the state legislature to approve the county’s request, but for now, county residents won’t see any increases in stormwater fees.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.