It isn’t the greatest timing in the world, but it was scheduled–if not required by ordinance–long before Hurricane Ian made it look like salt in the wound: Palm Coast government will implement rate increases for water, wastewater (sewer), and stormwater services beginning October 1, 2022. Combined, those rate increases will equate to an $8-a-month hike, or nearly $100 a year.
The average single-family dwelling with a water usage of 4,000 gallons per month can expect an increase of about $3.63 for water service and a $3.48 increase for wastewater service. The stormwater fee will increase by a flat rate of $1 per household. The new rate schedules for Water and Wastewater Rates and the Stormwater Fee go into effect on October 1, 2022, and can be found on the back of the bill received in October.
The Palm Coast City Council in 2018 approved gradually doubling the stormwater fee from what was $11.65 a month for a residential home to $23.95 a month by 2024. The current stormwater fee is $20.59, so it’s going up to $1.59. The council at the time also approved a 21 percent base rate increase for water and sewer customers.
The council in 2018 ratified its administration’s argument that the city’s aging stormwater infrastructure needed numerous upgrades if it were to not fail during a severe weather event. The stormwater system’s apparently stellar performance during Hurricane and Tropical Storm Ian seems to have vindicated that approach: barely a handful of homes experienced flooding inside their walls.
While the City is reluctant to raise prices, utility operating costs are ever-increasing, the city said in a release issued today. These funds will go towards the ongoing renewal and replacements of aging infrastructure and keep these vital utility systems functioning at the high level of service that Palm Coast residents have come to expect.
The City of Palm Coast has created a webpage containing helpful information for residents about the utility rate adjustment, including utility assistance programs, water conservation tips, a proposed rate schedule, and more. Residents can view the webpage by clicking here.
Residents can submit questions to our customer service portal at PalmCoast.gov/Connect or by calling Customer Service at 386-986-2360.
Katherine says
I am in a new home for two years and my swale is constantly backed up. When are they going to dredge the swales in seminal woods???
Same says
Same. They have cleared the swales at the top half of my road three times since I’ve lived in my house (12 years) but they’ve never once come down to my half of the street to clear any of ours. We have a lake every time it rains hard. Ian almost gave us an ocean. If my rates are going up that much – give us some drainage, now. And yes, we all complain and no one does anything about it except keep the top half of the road draining down to us. How nice of them.
Mark says
Same over here, they dredge the swales for the renters in duplex’s but not for the single home owners.
Jerome says
They did mine on Cottonwood Ct. three times in the past 10 years and they are still filled with water. Once they learn that water floes downhill it might be fixed.
Kabel says
Yes, this is a very sore subject, even before the IAN. I just replaced my culvert pipe and driveway at a huge expense to this retired, fixed income family. Palm Coast did not do their part to maintain or regrade our swale. The last time was 2015. Ive been put on “the list” for 5 “cycles” now. No more charges. Please fix my storm system.
Jimbo99 says
More unaffordable Biden inflation without getting anything more than what anyone ever got for the misery of a man-made lifetime.
A.j says
What did Trump do about the Biblical flood in Texas a few years ago? What did he do about the insurrection?
Gary Kunnas says
That was all caused by the last mayor and her special projects that we are all paying for now. Raise the water bill to dredge the fresh water canals and let the main reason people move her is the salt water canals go begging. All people living on the canals pay taxes on there docks and seawalls. Not a dime of that is used for maintaining the saltwater canals. The city and state has rules of NO DUMPING ANYTHING IN THE CANALS. That doesn’t stop builders, lawn cutters, landscapers and home owner from dumping in that canals. The city needs to start enforcing these laws and get off their chairs. It’s a descrace !!!!
A.j says
She was a Republican.
Mark says
Way past time for those that use the canals to pay a yearly user fee for upkeep. Gradual pricing say $15 for a kayak/canoe up to $100 for a yacht based on increments in size, user stickers either side of craft. ALL monies after administrative fees would go into a upkeep fund that would pay for dredging and other needed items.
Dianne says
Raise rates…did the city see the rivers in the double LL sections? Do something about the flooding issue..not raise rates…
Skibum says
I have been a resident of Palm Coast for more than 10 years, and our city’s water is the best, consistently winning awards over the years for the best water. If paying more to keep our great tasting water as well as the infrastructure in place to maintain the service and quality we have come to expect here in Palm Coast, so be it.
A.j says
What Palm Coast do you live in?
Skibum says
I live in the Palm Coast where I have hope that people can accept the fact that not everything in our lives is going to be perfect or the way we might like it, where people can tell the difference between truth and fiction, where many people actually do some research into issues, where kudos and thanks to the city is given when they do good things like winning the best tasting water award year after year. If you need evidence of this truth, I have put links to just a few of the several news articles about Palm Coast’s water awards here:
https://www.fsawwa.org/page/2022BTDWC
https://www.news4jax.com/news/2019/03/07/who-has-best-tasting-drinking-water-in-ne-florida/
https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/taste-test-winner-palm-coasts-water
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2011/06/22/palm-coast-water-judged-best-in-taste-for-region/30575038007/
James says
Hey, the water is drinkable… but it’s not coming out of Ponce De Leon’s personal fountain.
Do they have to charge so much?… Not in my opinion.
James says
Yup, it doesn’t come “cheao.”
Wallingford says
The Water and Sewage infrastructure becomes outdated and obsolete due to the development of Palm Coast which the current Board approves indiscriminately. A solution to the future Rate Increases which must be borne by the current Residents is to assess the Developers a fee to pay for the necessary future upgrades that will by necessity be made. There will be no Capital Money expended by the City as the Costs will have already been provided for.
Big Mike says
Months ago I opened a “case” with the City of Palm Coast” The even side of Courtney PL drains down to XX Courtney, then down a catch basin back toward Palm Harbor Golf Club. The catch basin has debris in it, half way up the pipe. The swale in front of XX holds water as the pipe under the driveway needs to be jetted out. The swale from the driveway at XX to the catch basin needs to be dug out lower as the water will NOT flow to the basin. On Monday 9/26/22 they finally gave me a case number. On Friday 9/30/22 at 3:53pm, I got an email that my case was “complete and closed” ( Swales – Drainage Issues – Swale Inspection) So I looked on my Ring camera and saw that ealier that afternoon a white City Pickup, slowly drove by my home, the drive looked out his window and left!!! He never parked his truck, and walked over to look into the partially full catch basin!! What kind of half a_ _ inspection was that?? What does “complete mean?? Are they going to fix the swale? Clean out the catch basin?? ya….maybe when the get their new Ford F150 pick up trucks with our tax dollars.
hjc says
Putting a complaint in palm coast connect is a waste of time. They do not respond and they close the cases without anyone contacting you or the problem being worked on. The city has it own crews working on the swales they have a half a million dollars worth of equipment. Eight employees on site and work about 4 hours a day. This problem will never be solved. If a business was run like this they would have to close the doors.
Skibum says
Hjc, I don’t know if you actually lodged a legitimate complaint on Palm Coast’s Connect app, but I have a number of times, and each time it worked like a charm. Since the city built the app, I have reported a stop sign down, a street light out, and a couple of other issues over the last couple of years. And you know what? Each and every time, without fail, the city responded quickly and not only took care of the issues I reported, but they let me know on the app that they had received my complaint, which department was working on it, and then a resolution when the specific issue was fixed. So don’t waste our time saying false things like you did in your comment. Maybe whatever YOU reported was different, but using the Connect app does indeed work well for both city staff and residents.
palmcoaster says
They have used our utility reserves as cash cow for developers plans like the widening of south Old Kings Road and the road expensive infrastructure and private overpriced lots purchases along Boulder Rock to benefit Town Center entrance. The 22 million latest new north Palm Coast sewer plant to benefit who? Can Carl Cote please explain if was funded by the growth that is to serve? Growth is supposed to pay for itself…otherwise reserves are utilized for what not intended and then they raise our rates to have the reserves they wasted and not in the bank anymore when new expansion capital projects are needed and or maintenance of our old utility infrastructure needs funding.