St. Petersburg residents could soon pay more for water, wastewater, and other city utilities. The city council advanced proposed increases for water, wastewater, reclaimed water, sanitation, and stormwater services. The combined impact could add roughly 7% to an overall utility bill, or an estimated $8 to $10 per month for an average single-family home.

Debate Over Who Should Pay

The proposal returns Aug. 27 for a public hearing and final vote. If approved, the new rates would take effect Oct. 1. City officials say the increases are needed to replace aging infrastructure, fund planned improvements, and avoid the greater expense that comes when equipment fails and requires emergency repairs.

Councilmember Corey Givens voted against advancing the proposal and wants the city to find more outside funding before returning to ratepayers. Instead of utility rate hikes, Givens proposed leveraging the Tropicana Field (Historic Gas Plant) site to spread infrastructure costs across generations.

Vice Chair Richie Floyd suggested spreading some of the costs onto developers. New developments add strain onto the city’s wastewater system, and to offset that strain, developments are charged a “water closet fee,” which applies when new residential units and many new or renovated commercial properties add toilets to the wastewater system.

Floyd also proposed reducing the amount of utility revenue transferred to the general fund every year. This could be achieved by freezing the millage rate, which would keep property tax rates from declining as property values rise.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.