County Water/Sewage Bills to Increase

BRADENTON – At a work session Tuesday, Manatee County Commissioners were presented with recommendations from the county's utility consultant regarding water and sewage rates. Despite a reluctance by most board members to raise rates, needed infrastructure reinvestment will likely mean significant monthly increases.

Tuesday's session suggested that water will continue to be a major fiscal challenge for the county in the years ahead. Growth is causing demand for water to increase by about 2 percent each year and 38 percent of existing infrastructure is 30 years old or older, requiring significant reinvestment.

On Dec. 29, a leak was discovered on one of the major pipes leaving the Braden River treatment plant, a 42-inch diameter transmission line installed in the 90s. Repairs are underway, however, the incident signaled a need to prepare for more replacements of older lines.

Internal erosion issues at the Lake Manatee Dam, which led to an emergency repair in 2014, necessitated a future "phase 2" series of repairs that include an upcoming replacement of the dam's spillway that will cost around $20 million. However, there are several other much more expensive infrastructure projects in the county's capital improvement plan.

The upcoming Buffalo Creek reverse osmosis water treatment plant adds another $91 million, the southwest and north water reclamation facilities will add $345 million while existing and new lift stations will add another $72 million to the department's financial plan within the CIP, the total funding for which is projected at $1.3 billion.

Consultants pointed out that Manatee County's rates are well below those of surrounding communities (see graph below) and are recommending total adjustment increases of 9.75% (around $11 a month on average) each year over a five-year period. This would take an average household bill for 6,000 gallons from its current $78.40 to $124.84 in the final year of the phase-in. About 40 percent of the increases are related to operating cost increases and 60 percent are related to capital reinvestment.

While the work session was also advertised as a special meeting, in case a vote was to be taken, commissioners did not take any action on Tuesday, and the item will be brought back for a vote at a future date, to be announced. Watch the video portion of the meeting below.