Board discusses raising assessments as several drainage districts show multi‑year deficits

Board members reviewed financial reports and discussed raising assessments on several drainage districts after presentations showing persistent deficits. Officials said some districts will not be able to cover current spending without assessment increases. Speakers identified several basins and areas that appeared to be in deficit or close to timing‑out: Heritage Point, Box Run, Stonehenge, Fox Road, and others. Board members said some deficits are driven by one‑time large expenses, while others reflect ongoing shortfalls; they discussed options including raising assessments, publishing notices and holding hearings, and spreading the cost over multiple years. One board member said the goal is to avoid repeated large special levies and to make the assessments self‑sustaining; staff said notices and public hearings can be published and that multiple hearings would follow. The record shows the board discussed which districts needed immediate action and which could be monitored. Why it matters: assessment increases affect property owners in affected basins and are the principal mechanism for covering maintenance and capital shortfalls for self‑maintaining drainage districts. Next steps: staff will prepare notices and publications for districts where increases are recommended, schedule hearings and report back to the board with recommended assessment schedules.