- April 25, 2024
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The City Commission plans to raise rates for water and waste water by a flat fee of $1 per month to help pay for projects such as replacing water mains and meters.
Also, water fees have been bringing in less money, because people have been conserving water, according to Finance Director Kelly McGuire.
She said the city encourages people to conserve, but “the downside” is that the city receives less revenue, while the costs in providing water are fixed, such as maintaining infrastructure and monitoring the system. Also, there are vacant houses which pay no water bill.
The City Commission gave approval to increases in water and wastewater rates at their regular meeting on Sept. 9. Increases will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2015, and Sept. 30, 2016, if approved in a second reading, most likely at the next City Commission meeting.
The proposed rate adjustments would increase the rate by a flat fee of $1 per month for both water and wastewater for all users inside the city limits. By adding a flat fee, rather than a rate tied to usage, the city will be able to calculate exactly how much revenue the increase will bring in.
The current minimum rate for someone who uses 2,000 gallons of water in a month is $12.08. It would go up to $13.08 on Oct. 1, and $14.08 on Sept. 30, 2016. The current rate for wastewater for the same user is $15.79, and it would go up to $16.79 on Sept. 30 and then $17.79 next year.
A person who uses 5,000 gallons of water now pays $21.62 for water and $29.08 for wastewater, and they would also see their rates increase by one dollar.
Those who live outside the city limits pay 150% of the city rate.
The increases are expected to net $550,000 in fiscal year 2015-2016.
In budget workshops this past year, the City Commissioners discussed how money is needed for capital projects, such as replacing water meters, water mains, and adding telemetry equipment to wells so they can be monitored.
Pickup for solid waste, recycling costlier
The city also gave approval in a first reading to increase the fees for collection of solid waste, yard waste and recycling. Another vote will be necessary for final approval.
In 2014, the City Commission sent the collection contract out for bids, and the best bid came in at $888,000 over the contract the city was paying. Even the current collector at the time, Waste Management Inc., came in higher than their current contract.
The city now pays $4,957,135 per year and the contract is with Waste Pro of Florida Inc.
In order to minimize the impact on citizens, the city decided last year to phase in the increases over three years, and the first increase was Oct. 1, 2014.
The residential rate for solid waste pickup will go from the current $14.54 to $15.22 on Oct. 1 and will go to $15.90 on Sept. 30, 2016.
The recycling charge will go from the current $3.07 to $3.19 on Oct. 1 and will go to $3.31 on Sept. 30, 2016.
