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Largo adopts five‑year capital improvement plan; commission continues debate over rate increases
Summary
The Largo City Commission adopted the FY2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program and approved proposed utility rate increases planned for public hearings (5% wastewater, 10% stormwater, 10% solid waste). Commissioners and residents raised concerns about cumulative rate impacts and rising capital costs.
The Largo City Commission on May 20 adopted Resolution 2438, approving the city’s five‑year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The plan is a planning document that does not appropriate funding but adds FY2026 projects to the capital budget for consideration in the annual budget process; the commission voted 7–0 to adopt the resolution.
Staff and the city’s Finance Advisory Board proposed utility rate increases included in the long‑range plan: a 5% wastewater increase, a 10% stormwater increase and a 10% solid waste increase for FY2026. Staff presented estimated average customer impacts for FY2026: stormwater $2.31/month; wastewater $2.39/month; solid waste $2.80/month. Staff said the first reading of any rate ordinance would be July 15 with a second reading Aug. 5; notices will be included in utility bills in July and August.
Public commenters urged caution. Resident Matthew Faustini highlighted what he called a substantial jump in projected CIP spending from last year’s plan, saying the FY2026 capital spending figure increased by roughly $10 million compared with last year’s published CIP for the same year and that recent utility rate increases (noted in public comments as 30–37% across services in recent years) risk burdening residents. Greg Gardner urged tighter fleet maintenance and criticized perceived excess vehicle purchases. Speakers asked for clearer historical context on cumulative rate increases.
Commission discussion focused on transparency and the need to balance necessary infrastructure investment against affordability. Commissioner DeFriese (speaker identified in discussion) requested a line‑by‑line explanation of what caused the year‑to‑year $10 million change; staff said the increase reflected new stormwater projects identified at recent workshops plus updated cost projections and inflation. Assistant city managers noted planned rate increases are updated twice a year and that some changes reflect schedule shifts, cost escalations and addition of new projects discussed in recent work sessions.
Several commissioners said they support the long‑range investments—particularly in stormwater and wastewater given recent heavy storms—but asked staff for follow‑up detail on the change from last year’s CIP and for a cumulative presentation of rate increases over the past five years. Staff committed to provide a detailed breakdown to the commission ahead of rate hearings.
The commission adopted Resolution 2438 (FY2026–2030 CIP) on a 7–0 vote. Staff will add the FY2026 CIP projects to the proposed annual budget for October 1, 2025, and return with rate ordinance materials in July.
Speakers in this discussion are listed below and were quoted or paraphrased from the May 20, 2025 commission meeting record.
