{"id":373853,"date":"2026-08-17T17:59:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/373853\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T17:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:59:47","slug":"city-of-st-pete-approves-first-public-hearing-for-utility-rate-increases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/373853\/","title":{"rendered":"City of St. Pete approves first public hearing for utility rate increases"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (WFLA) \u2014 The St. Petersburg City Council is moving forward with a planned rate hike for water, wastewater, reclaimed water, sanitation, and stormwater utilities. If passed, customers could pay an extra 7% on their overall bill. That could be an average of $8-$10 for single family homes. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think people are having a hard enough time just making it as it is now. And every time the rates go up, that means there\u2019s less money in their pocket to do other things that they need to do to take care of families,\u201d said Sundra Caldwell, a resident. <\/p>\n

The city approved the first hearing of the plan during a council meeting Thursday. The extra money would help pay for projects to modernize outdated systems and lower emergency repair costs. <\/p>\n

Residents said they want the council to be creative with the payments instead of taxes being moved from the utility into the general fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m asking council again to consider even just temporarily reducing or eliminating those transfers so more money residents pay right now stays with the utility,\u201d said a woman who called into the meeting.<\/p>\n

Council member Richie Floyd voiced another idea for some relief. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of people in this city want to see us put more burden on, you know, development,\u201d said Floyd. \u201cAnd they\u2019re not contributing the same way that residents are to utilities because they\u2019re not here paying utility bills. And if we put it on a property taxes, they will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council member Mike Harting pointed out the hardship it could bring for different situations. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou as a homeowner have a higher mileage rate so you pay more in property taxes. as a renter whoever owns my property, well this is their only source of income, he\u2019ll pay it but he\u2019ll raise my rent in order to pay it,\u201d said Harting. <\/p>\n

Council member Corey Givens voted against the measure, and said the property tax reduction vote in November could change everything. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat can determine whether or not we have the resources, the property taxes to pay for these upgrades. So I feel like putting the cart before the horse is not wise,\u201d said Givens. <\/p>\n

On August 27, the council will have a public hearing on the rates, and that\u2019s when the final vote will happen. If approved, the increases will start October 1.<\/p>\n

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