About

On August 30, 1972, a request was made by the General Development Corporation [“Order Granting Petition for the Formation of a Water Management [sic] District,”] for 31,847 acres they owned in Glades County and Hendry County to be declared a drainage district as authorized by Chapter 298 of the Florida Statutes. Thereafter, the District was created on May 8, 1975, by the Circuit County of the 20th Judicial Circuit in and for Hendry County in Case Number 72-197, styled “in Re: Barron Water Management District,”.

Although each of the canals within the District proper are owned by Barron, the canals themselves are under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees of the Barron-Hilliard-ALICO Cooperative Drainage Plan commonly referred to as the “Joint Trust”. Within the 50-square mile area, there are three main drainage canals known as Canal 1 or C-1, C-2, and C-3. C-3 serves as both a drainage and an irrigation canal.

The original petition of the Barron Drainage District was granted for a 30-year term. House Bill Number 799, approved by the Governor May 29, 2001, extended an additional term of 15-years granting authority for the District to exist until midnight September 30, 2020.

Fiscal Information [Budget and Finance]:
The fiscal year of the District is October 1st, 2022 through September 30th, 2023. The 2022-2023 budget is $2,499,767.77. The District receives revenue most notably from tax rate assessments on a per acre basis within four categories:

• Urban rate, $77.61; there are 4,665.05 acres
• Irrigation rate, $21.92; there are 14,426.77 acres
• Drainage rate, $6.22; there are 7,083.91 acres
• Urban Grove rate, $38.81; there are 507.11 acres

Through an interagency agreement, the District also receives revenue from the Port LaBelle Community Development District. While providing field services and also serving as the Administrator, the District receives revenue from the Intergovernmental Services Agreement (ISF) with the water control districts of Collins Slough and Gerber Groves. A similar agreement is in place with users of the Joint Trust including the water control districts of Barron, Collins Slough, Devils Garden, and Gerber Groves.

Should it be necessary in incur debt, under Florida Statute §298.47, the District has the authority to issue bonds, notes, or other forms of indebtedness as necessary. Additionally, the District maintains a $600,000 line of credit.