FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Fort Myers City Council voted 5-2 to approve a until 2031.
Council members explained the increase is the best way to maintain the utility fund without passing on a large unexpected rate to customers down the road. The utility increase impacts potable water, sewer and irrigation water rates.
According to the city, the average annual cost of operating utilities has gone up by almost 8% since 2024. If a customer’s current monthly cost is about $107, the increase brings the bill to around $112, a little more than $5 a month.
The increase will generate about $4.4 million in additional revenue for the utility fund. WINK News talked to city staff last month about the proposal and spoke to neighbors.
“If we don’t do this rate increase, we’d have to make decisions on cutting out certain programs,” Jason Sciandra, city of Fort Myers public utilities director, said.
Fort Myers neighbor John Stuart shared his thoughts on the increase.
“Obviously not so great,” Stuart said. “So you know, I wouldn’t. It probably wouldn’t hurt too many big families right now. But I mean, you know, for our generation, not good.”
Fort Myers utility users can expect to start seeing the increase on their billing October 1st.