PANAMA CITY — The County Commission is viewing a water and sewer rate hike more as a bitter pill retail customers must swallow rather than something for debate.
The commission discussed the hike, which will raise the average Bay County customer’s bill by $19 a month, at its meeting Tuesday.
“I don’t think anybody likes to raise rates on anything for anybody,” said Commissioner Mike Thomas.
But he said it was something that needs to be done and recommended the board proceed with the rate hike. He stressed the rate hike is only for retail customers in the unincorporated part of the county, not wholesale customers such as the cities that buy their water from the county.
“This is a separate pot altogether,” Thomas said.
Commissioner George Gainer noted the county has a consultant who has reviewed the retail rates; the consultant advised the board to increase the rates and continue to do so in future years. The average customer uses about 5,000 gallons of water a month.
The rates are graduated — more use means higher cost. Under the current rates, the first 1,000 gallons cost $44.84 a month; that would increase to $56.80. For up to 3,000 gallons, the cost currently is $62.54 a month, but would increase to $77.76. For up to 5,000 gallons, the cost is $80.34 a month, but would increase to $99.18.
Chairman Guy Tunnell said the county has lost $10 million on water and sewer rates over the last several years. Initially, the county hoped growth would slow the cash bleed, but the recession has stood in the way.
“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Tunnell said after the meeting.
Tunnell said the county hates to raise the rates, but they’ve been artificially low for some time. He said the growth hasn’t helped to balance out the low rates, so now the board must act. He said the county has been losing $500,000 annually.
“That’s tough,” he said.
The board conducted a public hearing Tuesday to get feedback from residents, but no one spoke. The public has one more opportunity to comment on the hike at the March 18 meeting. The commission is scheduled to vote on the measure afterward.
In other business Tuesday, the commission:
- Approved all six appointments to the RESTORE Advisory Committee, including the previously unannounced Jay Trumbull Sr., owner of the local Culligan Water franchise, chosen by Commissioner Bill Dozier.
- Unanimously approved a $15,067 tax break for Eastern Shipbuilding Group, which should help create 50 jobs.
- Heard from County Manager Ed Smith, who said the county animal shelter has hired a new director; Paula Hunter is a supervisor at Brevard County’s South Animal Care Center in Melbourne and starts March 24.
