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Rates For Water Services Could Rise

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2007

DADE CITY - Pasco County Utilities customers may soon pay more for water and sewer services as officials update the rates.

The county commission on Tuesday set a public hearing on the rate increases for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey. If the new fees go into effect, the owner of a single-family home who uses 8,000 gallons per month will pay $66.73 for water and wastewater services as of Oct. 1, up from the current $61.85. A customer who uses 6,000 gallons per month would pay $53.69.
Reclaimed water rates also would increase for residential customers from a monthly $11.80 flat fee for about 23,000 gallons to $14.82 in 2008, with incremental increases for inflation in the three following years.

Pasco consultant Andy Woodcock of Hardman and Associates of Orlando, which conducted a four-year rate study, said the recommended increases are driven by higher operating and maintenance costs, the price of buying water from the regional water authority, Tampa Bay Water, and state and regional regulatory requirements, as well as the need to pay off debts for capital improvements.

Woodcock recommended increasing the rates again in 2008 and bumping them again for inflation during the next four years. The charges are similar to those in neighboring counties. Pasco Utilities has about 95,000 customers.

Those who conserve and use less water would be given breaks on their rates, said Bruce Kennedy, the assistant county administrator for utility services.

The county last did a rate study in 2003 and implemented increases each year. If the latest proposal is approved, the rates would have to be updated in 2011, Woodcock said.

Also Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-0 to introduce an ordinance to replace their current economic development incentives standards. Commissioner Ted Schrader is on vacation and was absent.

The new rules, modeled after regulations in Hernando County, in part require businesses to qualify for state aid and to offer wages that are at least 125 percent higher than Pasco's average annual wage of about $29,000, Chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite said. The ordinance also sets a timeline for reimbursement and for fulfilling promises for new jobs. The county may offer additional incentives as officials see fit.

Pasco's Business Incentives Commission still would review applications, said Mary Jane Stanley, chairwoman and chief executive officer of the Pasco Economic Development Council. County officials also will continue to encourage companies to hire Pasco residents, although she said that is 'difficult to enforce.'

A public hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the West Pasco Government Center.

In other business, commissioners:

•Voted 3-1 to introduce a 'vested rights' ordinance, which would allow landowners to present their cases for development rights before the county commission. Currently, landowners must file a lawsuit to claim vested rights.

Commissioner Jack Mariano objected to the ordinance, saying he thinks it will erode the county's position that landowners should do their due diligence before buying land.

County Attorney Robert Sumner said some of the disputes arise because property owners receive promises, in writing, of rights which are never delivered. The vested rights ordinance would allow some of those concerns to be resolved out of court.

•Agreed to arrange a meeting with the Hillsborough County Commission to discuss common concerns. The Hillsborough board recently asked for reimbursement for road improvements officials said would be needed after the Wiregrass Ranch mall and other developments are completed north of its border at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. No time or date has been set. The boards' respective staffs are to set the agenda.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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