Manatee County staff propose phased increase to water and wastewater facility investment fees

Manatee County officials told the board at a Nov. 5 work session that growing capital costs and post‑2018 inflation require recalculating the county’s facility investment fees, which pay for infrastructure to serve new development.

“Any anywhere from, 30% increase since 2018 to, well over, well over 200 inflation, rates for commodities,” Patrick Shay, Manatee County utilities director, said in presenting the county’s capital plan and cost drivers, later adding that the county’s utility five‑year CIP had risen from just under $400 million to roughly $1.6 billion in today’s estimates.

Outside rate consultant Mark Tuma said the firm’s methodology follows the legal standard known as the dual rational nexus: identify growth‑related capital, allocate capacity and divide that cost by…