The three buckets
- Annual operating — routine cleaning, post-storm sweeps, pond BMP service.
- Recurring inspection — SFWMD ERP O&M inspection under Chapter 62-330.
- Reserve — 5-year drainage recertification and corrective repairs.
Realistic numbers for a mid-size HOA (150–300 units, 2 ponds)
- Annual catch basin cleaning: $3,500–$8,000 (bundled mobilization).
- Post-storm sweep after named events: $600–$1,200 per event.
- Pond littoral maintenance: $1,200–$3,000 per year.
- SFWMD ERP inspection: $2,500–$5,500 annually.
- Reserve for 5-year recert + corrective: $8,000–$20,000 over 5 years.
Total annual: $7,000–$18,000 in a normal storm year for a mid-size community, plus reserve accrual of $1,600–$4,000/year for the 5-year event.
Where boards under-budget
Corrective work uncovered at recertification (pipe repairs, control-structure rebuilds, littoral restoration) — this is the number that causes special assessments. Fund the reserve every year and it won't.
The bundling multiplier
Cleaning all inlets in a single mobilization vs. piecemeal saves 25–40%. Pairing the SFWMD inspection with the annual cleaning saves another crew day. See Pembroke Pines and Boca Raton HOA notes for local examples.
