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Committee directs administration to craft plan to keep water and sewer rates flat while preserving consent-decree compliance
Summary
After a lengthy debate, the Appropriations Committee approved a motion asking the mayor and administration to prepare a plan explaining whether water and sewer rates can be kept flat for operations while still meeting capital obligations tied to the county's consent decree and ocean outfall work.
Miami-Dade County's Appropriations Committee voted to send a directive to the mayor's office and Water and Sewer Department to produce a plan that would attempt to keep water and sewer rates flat for operations while outlining how the county would remain in compliance with its federal consent decree and ocean outfall requirements.
Chairwoman Daniella Regalado said she brought the item to "work directly with the administration" and to avoid last-minute budget decisions that can disadvantage departments. Roy Coley, chief utilities and regulatory services officer (and former director of the Water and Sewer Department), told the committee the department has contained operational costs and "we will not be asking for any rate increase to go towards operations," adding that capital work required under the consent decree will need funding via revenue bonds or other sources. He said operational efficiencies (Lean Six Sigma, automation) have reduced recurring costs but that capital projects to meet federally mandated schedules will demand funding.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins said she supported the department's work but opposed directing the administration to keep rates flat without seeing the budget numbers, because the annual budget prints July 15 and commissioners have not all been briefed. In response, Chairwoman Regalado and other commissioners negotiated an amendment requiring the administration to provide detailed information: a plan for maintaining flat rates where feasible, a breakdown of capital needs and funding sources, and assurances that any approach would not jeopardize compliance or subject the county to federal fines.
Stacy Miller, director of DTPW (and speaking about budget context), reiterated the distinction between operations and capital and confirmed the board had previously approved a five-year rate plan that anticipates incremental increases for capital needs. The committee agreed to move the item, as amended, to the full commission for consideration; motion text as amended directs the administration to present a plan and supporting data during the budget process.
Why it matters: Water and sewer rates affect all county utility customers, and the department must balance operational stability with capital projects required by a federal consent decree. Commissioners sought a transparent plan that shows whether operations can be kept rate-neutral while capital obligations are met.
What's next: The administration will prepare a plan and supporting budget detail for the full commission; the item will be considered as the county's budget is finalized and printed.
