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Council to Consider Fee Increases

Three separate measures would affect those with city water, Family Recreation Complex members, and local business owners.

 

The Temple Terrace City Council is expected to consider three different fee increases that would affect residents and business owners.

According to the Tuesday meeting agenda, the council is scheduled to consider a resolution that would increase water rates by 3.4 percent based on a 2009 water and wastewater rate study. At that time, the council decided to increase water rates over time instead of all at once, said Michael Dunn, the city’s public information officer.

If approved, the rate would go up from $1.78 to $1.84 per 1,000 gallons up to 8,000 gallons. The average resident’s water bill is currently $38.47 per month. With the increase, the average bill would go up to $39.17 per month, Dunn explained.

Comparatively, average residents in Plant City pay $39.88 per month; Hillsborough County, $47.01 per month; Safety Harbor, $46.02 per month; and City of Tampa, $30.90 per month, Dunn said.

“Ours is still the cheapest except for the City of Tampa,” he said.

The new water rate increase would go into effect Oct. 1.

The council is also expected to consider a resolution to implement a 10 percent membership fee increase at the Family Recreation Complex. The increase is in accordance with the rec center’s expansion project and would also take effect Oct. 1. Current membership fees range from $64-$265 for Temple Terrace residents and $128-$530 for non-residents.

Additionally, the council is expected to take public comment and a final vote on an ordinance that would increase local business taxes by 5 percent.

According to the agenda, the council is also scheduled to:

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. It will be televised live on Verizon Channel 39 and Bright House Channel 950 and rebroadcast on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the council will meet in the conference room behind the Council Chambers for a Historic Preservation workshop.

Related Topics: Family Recreation Complex, Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, Temple Terrace City Council, Temple Terrace Police, Temple Terrace Water Rates, and Temple Terrace government

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Sherri Lonon

9:57 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

What do you all think about the proposed fee increases? Too high? Necessary?

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Gary Smith

11:22 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Unnecessary. People reduced water consumption because of restrictions placed on us. Temple Terrace went to a tier system for billing which casued people to reduce water consumption. Now that water use is down they want to raise the rates to make up for the lack of income. Anyone with brains would have known the income would be reduced and planned for it not just raise the rates. Reduce expenses in the water department. Don't say it can't be done. There are always ways to cut cost. The residence of Temple Terrace will have to cut cost to pay for these rate increases. If Tampa has cheaper water rates follow their lead not those with higher rates. That is just down right dumb.

JS

10:32 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Since when do we compare our rates to everyone elses? So what if we are the cheapest. Rates should go up based on the cost of providing water, not on what everyone else pays. We are not Wal Mart competing with Kmart.

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