After an 8.5 percent increase last year, the Flagler Beach City Commission Thursday unanimously approved an 8 percent increase in water, sewer, garbage-collection and stormwater rates starting on Halloween–an apparently unintentional spook–with a smaller, 3.5 percent increase next year.
The city is estimating the the average water bill for residents will increase by $8.15 a month, to $110, or by $102 for the year.
The increases are not a surprise, but the latest implementation of a rate study the commission has debated–and occasionally agonized over–though City Manager Dale Martin wants a new analysis of the rates. “I’d like to over the course of the next few years take a long hard look at the structure of our water rates,” he told the commission.
The base water and sewer fees will go from $60.5 to $65.34, keeping in mind that that’s the base fee, before you take your first sip of water. (In comparison, in Palm Coast the base water fee is $53.92 for a 1-inch pipe, $107.84 for a 1.5-inch pipe, and up from there, with residential usage charged at $61 for the first 10,000 gallons.)
The water and sewer rates are going up by slightly more than the 7 percent increase recommended by the Public Service Commission, but the city has been playing catch-up with its utility rates for the last several years, and in some regards it still is.
The garbage rate is going from $24.18 to $26.11. The 8 percent increase in garbage rates will still be insufficient to cover the operational costs, a city analysis states, because the city bought a new truck. Reserves will decrease as a consequence. Nevertheless, as with water and sewer rates, the city is banking on new development along Roberts Road, where a 240-unit apartment complex is going up, to bring in new revenue and offset larger rate increases next year: the garbage rate is expected to increase by 3.5 percent for two years running starting in 2024-25. (The rate in Palm Coast is $32.32.)
The stormwater fee will increase $1.08, to $14.58, half the fee that just went in effect in Palm Coast ($28.34).
Commissioner Rick Belhumeur was fine with the water and sewer increase, but initially was not as agreeable with the increase in stormwater fees because “we have so much money unspent.” The stormwater account has an unrestricted fund balance of $586,000. Martin said part of that money will pay for a new city engineering position. Martin is also looking to update the city’s stormwater master plan, last updated in 2009. That would cost money, as will a 10 percent required city match to a $900,000 stormwater project that will otherwise be funded by a grant.
Eric Cooley, the commission’s chairman, was only half joking–and likely understating the case–when he said that a 100 percent increase in the stormwater fee would not account for the city’s backlog. “We have a lot of work to do with stormwater,” he said.
In fact, Palm Coast’s stormwater fee went from $11.65 a month in 2018 to the current $28.34, a 143 percent increase in just five years., and still it hasn’t been enough: Palm Coast just adopted a five-year, 75 percent increase in its stormwater rates.
Not a single member of the public addressed the commission–usually a reflection of an understanding citizenry. By the end of the very brief discussion, even Belhumeur was on board, and the motion to increase the rates passed unanimously.
jake says
Flagler Beach, where your money goes to die.
Dennis C Rathsam says
People should only be charged for the water they use. This is another way of ripping off seniors, whom use less water day to day!
Kerry says
Suck all your savings acct from retirement people.
Daniel Finn says
Water bill is higher than my electric bill.
Outrageous!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Flagler Beach refuse rate below Palm Coasts and they actually embrace recycling.
TR says
I guess they’re following in the foot steps of the city council of PC. Just keep charging more and more for services.
Bethechange says
Are you f’en kidding me? Just got accustomed to our bill going from about $60 to over $90 per month and now even more? No matter how you slice it, seems like a 50% increase and growing. Maybe I just suck at Math
Tim says
Glad I don’t live in Flagler. Seems like a lot of fees to live in a county with nothing to offer. Another good hurricane comes through and Flagler won’t have a beach anymore.
Bill says
Might as well double the price! These fools moving into the area are stupid. They are use to paying 350-500 a month for water and sewage.
Laurel says
I told y’all, growth does not lower taxes. It increases them.
I hold no grudge with the sanitation department, they are really good.
Endangered species says
the line must go up. Think of the shareholders. who cares that all living things need water to survive the selected few need more profits.
Bill W says
Get ready. Dale Martin is your new City Manager. I think he will continue wasting money to a point where it is unaffordable to live in Flager. He did the same thing in Fernandina Beach. He loves to spend YOUR tax dollars and will increase taxes too! Watch and see.
JimboXYZ says
Exactly, but he also inherited that mess in Flagler Beach. And it’s like I said before, Flagler Beach is a different animal than Fernandina Beach. Fernandina has industry there, Flagler is purely tourism & retail. Westrock & Rayonier. They also have a port as well. The railroad even dead ends at the port. There really is only one strategy for Flagler Beach, increase prices and try to attract the next generation of wealthy to gouge for inflation. Government has to be the biggest employer there. Beyond tourism & residential what else is there ? Parks, Pier & lodging. Almost surprised the campgounds haven’t been targeted for developers & more relatively permanent condos for residential. That has to be in the plans though. There has to be some protection keeping that from being a government takeover like the Green Lion or Bing’s Landing restaurant didn’t have when the Government went after them for better paying tenants ?
JimboXYZ says
It’s not just Flagler Beach, the City of Palm Coast utility bill increased too. My bill this month is higher for at least the Stormwater line item. I still have the same swale that I’ve always had. I’ve done more to repair & maintain the swale than the City of Palm Coast has ever done. Where is that money going ? Because obviously it’s not being spent on the line item indicated anywhere on this street or surrounding residential network or roads & swales.