Monroe County expands MSBU program, empowers residents to fund improvements

Monroe County officials have proposed a major expansion of the Municipal Service Benefit Unit program to give residents in unincorporated areas a direct pathway to request and finance neighborhood improvement projects. The proposal, presented November 21, 2025, would allow property owners to initiate projects ranging from road elevations and drainage upgrades to canal restorations, beach renourishment, living shorelines, new sidewalks and additional lighting.

County staff developed several pilot projects in recent years to address sunny day flooding by elevating roads and adjusting drainage. After design and bidding phases, construction costs for those projects exceeded available grant funding, leaving planned work unfinished. County estimates now suggest that between 40 and 90 neighborhoods will need some form of drainage improvement over the next several years, a gap that has prompted officials to seek new financing options.

Under the draft MSBU Neighborhood Improvement Plan program, projects must be requested by residents and win approval from a majority of the property owners who would benefit, defined as 50 percent plus one. The county would be able to advance funds for preliminary work such as research, design, permitting and construction management. Those advance costs would then be reimbursed to the county through a special assessment applied to the benefited properties.

The Board discussed the program on November 12 and has scheduled further discussion at its December 10 meeting. A public hearing is planned for January 28, 2026 in Marathon, with a virtual access option via Zoom, giving residents chances to review details and raise concerns. Proposed materials and the draft ordinance are available on the county MSBU web resources for public review.

For Monroe County neighborhoods at the frontline of sea level rise and chronic flooding, the program offers a locally driven funding tool to supplement limited grant dollars. The plan shifts more decision making and financial responsibility to affected communities, which could accelerate needed work but also lead to assessments on property owners. Residents should review the draft materials and take part in upcoming meetings to understand potential costs and benefits for their neighborhoods.