County meeting focuses on water rate increases
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007  |
PINELLAS COUNTY – If the Board of County Commissions approves a proposed schedule of water rate increases, customers would begin receiving higher bills after Feb. 18, 2008.
A public hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., in the Fifth Floor Assembly Room of the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater. The purpose of the meeting is to consider 3 percent rate increases for the county’s water system in 2008 and 2009.
According to county officials, the primary reasons for upping the water rates include increased costs of purchasing water from Tampa Bay Water; reduced water sales to wholesale customers due to increased conservation measures; and debt service costs of a new bond issue to fund construction of a water blending facility. The projected amount of the bond is $70.5 million.
The board of county commissioners authorized construction of a new water blending facility on July 10 to replace the aging Keller Pump Station. The more-modern facility is expected to provide efficient and effective blending, chemical treatment, storage and pumping of water supplied from multiple sources. The goal is uniform, high quality water for all of the county’s water system customers.
The first wholesale water rate adjustment is an increase of 3 percent, upping the cost per 1,000 gallons of water from $4.04 to $4.16. The increase is projected to generate an additional $365,880 for fiscal year 2008. The rate change, if approved, would become effective the first full billing cycle after Feb. 18, 2008, or at least 60 days after the BCC approves the rate increases.
The second wholesale water rate adjustment is also an increase of 3 percent, upping the rates per 1,000 gallons to $4.28. If approved, the change would become effective the first full billing cycle billed on or after Dec. 1, 2008. The second increase is anticipated to generate an additional $642,750 for fiscal year 2009.
Members of the public who would like to speak on the proposed water rate increases should fill out a blue card and submit it to the agenda coordinator at the staff table in the front of the board room.
The chairman of the board will call the names of persons submitting cards and each will have three minutes to speak. Anyone authorized to represent an organization of five or more persons will have 10 minutes to speak.
For more information, call Pinellas County Utilities at 464-4000.
The public also is reminded that the Dec. 18 meeting will not be broadcast on Bright House Channel 18. As of Dec. 11, Pinellas County government meetings and programs are only available on Channel 622. Bright House customers must have a digital cable box or TV with a digital receiver. Some people may need a special box, which costs $1 a month. For more information, call Bright House Networks Customer Service at 329-5020.
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Article published on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007
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