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Apopka council delays water rate vote, approves 15% sanitation increase amid resident protest
Summary
Councilors on Sept. 3 received a five‑year forecast showing large capital and debt needs for city water, wastewater and reclaimed systems; after questions, the council tabled the water‑rate resolution and scheduled a Sept. 9 public session. Separately, the council approved a 15% residential increase in sanitation rates, 4–1.
Councilors on Sept. 3 received a detailed, five‑year financial forecast from financial consultant RAFTillis showing that Apopka’s water, wastewater and reclaimed water systems will need major capital investment and more revenue to pay for planned projects and increased debt service.
Blanche Sherman, the city’s finance director, and Sean Ocasio of RAFTillis told the council the city’s capital improvement plan for utilities has been reduced from an earlier, much larger estimate but still totals about $188 million over 2025–2029. A large portion of the plan — roughly $101.5 million — assumes future borrowing. The firm’s recommended rate path to pay operations, debt service and to begin rebuilding cash reserves is a 15.5% increase in FY2026 and FY2027 followed by 3.5% increases in FY2028 and FY2029.
RAFTillis said the…
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