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Lake Placid board recommends multi‑year water and sewer rate increases
Summary
The Lake Placid Utility Board voted to recommend a multi‑year schedule of increased water and sewer rates to the Town Council and to direct staff to revisit meter and connection charges; one board member dissented on the rate recommendation.
The Lake Placid Utility Board voted to recommend that the Town Council adopt a new ordinance setting multi‑year increases to the town's water and sewer rates, and asked staff to reexamine meter and system development charges.
Mr. Harris, a staff member who presented the ordinance language, said the draft replaces Town Code section 2-0-3 (residential water rates) and related sections with a new schedule based on the Florida Rural Water report. He told the board the new schedule stages annual increases and that the ordinance is written so the first year would take effect upon council adoption, "the October 20" effective date cited in the packet.
The new schedule sets the monthly base facility charge for a 5/8- to 3/4-inch service at $18.50 effective Oct. 20, 2025, rising to $19.97 in 2026 and $21.57 in subsequent years as shown in the ordinance text. Mr. Harris said similar graduated increases are listed for larger taps and for commercial base charges, and that sewer charges are tied to water tap diameter and a monthly water user charge by usage.
Why it matters: staff and an outside reviewer from Florida Rural Water concluded the increases are needed to close an estimated budget shortfall and to cover long-term operating and capital needs. Mr. Harris and other staff said the town still faces roughly a $470,000 gap and that the staged increases and follow-up rate study are intended to bring the utility budget into balance over roughly three to five years.
Board discussion and public questions focused on scope and impacts. A resident, Pam Fentress of Lost Lake Drive, asked whether hook‑up would be mandatory and which areas of the Lake Placid region would be required to connect; the board and staff said those details depend on grant and project planning and are not specified in the ordinance presented for rates. Board members also raised concerns about the low charge for meter sets (a $500 3/4-inch meter set appears in the packet) and asked staff to bring "science" and updated quotes back next month. Board member Pam Brewer moved to recommend the ordinance to council; Tal Rancourt seconded. The recommendation passed on a roll call with four yes votes and one no: Pam Brewer (yes); Tal Rancourt (yes); Pat Elliott (yes); John Draper (yes); Jack Conley (no). The board recorded the motion as a recommendation; final adoption requires Town Council action.
The board also voted separately to direct staff to examine meter set, grinder and system development charges and to return recommended revisions at the next meeting. That motion passed unanimously.
Board members emphasized that only the rate elements were before the board at this meeting; other provisions of the underlying ordinance will return to the board in November when Utility Director Bert Warner is available to participate.
Next steps: the board recommended the ordinance to council for placement on the council agenda; staff will prepare a rate‑study update and revised meter/set fee proposals for future consideration.
