Water and sewer rates may climb on Nov. 1

Rates proposed by St. Petersburg officials would increase a customer's bill by about $26 a year.

By LEONORA LaPETER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 3, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- For the third time since January 1999, city water and sewer rates are expected to go up to pay for the city's aging utility system.

City officials are proposing an 8 percent increase in water rates and a 5.5 percent jump in sewer rates. If approved, the average customer using about 5,600 gallons of water would pay about $2.19 more per month or about $26 a year after Nov. 1.

The proposed rate hikes -- part of an aggressive maintenance campaign that is expected to increase rates as much as 30 percent over five years -- would generate about $4-million in revenue.

"We've told the public for a long time there are going to be continued improvements needed to the system and that we're committed to those (rate) increases," said City Administrator Tish Elston.

The City Council will consider the rate increase at a Sept. 7 meeting and hold a public hearing Sept. 21. The rates would go into effect Nov. 1.

Fees for reclaimed water, stormwater and sanitation would remain the same, although Elston said the city is still studying a possible increase in stormwater fees later this fall.

The city has borrowed about $50-million to replace pipes, some as old as 100 years, and upgrade its water and wastewater systems, said Evelyn Rosetti, manager of program administration at the city's Public Works Department.

Much of the money generated from the rate increases will go to repay that debt. The city also faces mounting costs from Tampa Bay Water, the regional water wholesaler that serves St. Petersburg.

Elston pointed out that St. Petersburg's rates are still competitive.

The city produced a rate comparison showing that the city's 89,000 users still pay rates that are similar to those in Clearwater and Pinellas County and below Hillsborough and Sarasota counties.

The city conducted a rate study in 1998 that determined it would need to invest a total of $120-million in its water and sewer systems over the next five years, said Patricia Anderson, assistant director of public utilities.

"This will continue to be a driving force in our rates forever," Anderson said.

That study recommended a rate increase every year for five years.

In January 1999, the city increased sewer rates by 6.5 percent and water rates by 4.3 percent. In January 2000, rates went up 8 percent for water and 5.5 percent for sewer.

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