HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) – Hialeah Mayor Jacqueline Garc\u00eda-Roves announced the city will be absorbing millions in county rate hikes to protect residents from massive water bills.<\/p>\n
City leaders said they will be going forward with a plan to absorb $11 million in county rate hikes to prevent residents from seeing up to a 20% jump on their monthly water bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike, for us and the City of Hialeah, for those that live in these municipalities and have their own water systems, that buy water wholesale from the county, that we\u2019re going to have to absorb that cost or pass that cost onto the users,\u201d said Miami-Dade Commissioner Rene Garcia, :and I think the City of Hialeah, I think the mayor has come out saying that the City of Hialeah will absorb that cost.\u201d <\/p>\n
In comparison, the rest of Miami-Dade County is only seeing between a 4% and 6% hike to cover rising costs of an aging system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make it absolutely clear that I will not allow the county to raise the water on our residents for so much money. I will be presenting to the council, I will be absorbing the water costs, and I will not be passing it on to the residents of the City of Hialeah,\u201d said Garc\u00eda-Roves.<\/p>\n
The mayor also demanded a state audit of Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, citing millions in county debt and disputes over meter readings.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s promised new measures across the city, including a program to install a second water meter for Hialeah residents.<\/p>\n
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released a statement following Hialeah mayor\u2019s press conference that read:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe residents of Miami-Dade County deserve transparency, fairness, and accountability when it comes to the management of their water and sewer systems. Unfortunately, the City of Hialeah has chosen to walk away from its obligations\u2014both in the operation of the jointly-owned Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant and in the payment of nearly $18 million owed for wholesale sewer services.<\/p>\n
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is an enterprise operation, funded solely by customer payments\u2014not by tax dollars. When one customer refuses to pay, every other customer across the County unfairly shoulders the cost. The City\u2019s refusal to pay its past due sewer bills is currently hurting other hard-working residents that are keeping up with their bills. The County cannot accept a proposal to simply hand over the plant in lieu of payment. Doing so would set a dangerous precedent and further burden our residents. We have therefore initiated the formal dispute resolution process under Florida law to protect the interests of all Miami-Dade ratepayers.<\/p>\n
It is our belief that the City faces significant financial constraints of its own making, and we encourage a full review of Hialeah\u2019s financial practices. If water and sewer revenues are being diverted to subsidize unrelated municipal operations, that is a disservice to both their residents and ours. Miami-Dade County will continue to stand firm on behalf of its residents to ensure fairness, fiscal responsibility, and the protection of vital public infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
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