Lakeland officials said the city is facing a stormwater funding crisis, with millions of dollars in drainage and water-quality projects but no money to pay for them.

Laurie Smith, manager of Lakeland's Lakes and Stormwater Division, said the city has $69 million in unfunded stormwater improvement and lake projects.

We look under every rock we can find to get grants, but the grants are finicky, Smith said.

Leaders are now considering a proposal to nearly double the stormwater utility fee for residents. Under the proposal, the average homeowner would see the fee rise from $9.72 a month to $17.47 over five years.

Doubling our fees is quite extreme, especially when a lot of us are still suffering from the flooding last year, said Misty Wells.

One project that needs funding is the Lake Bon

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