Levy County seeks consensus on water-rate updates and legislative funding priorities

Levy County staff presented proposed adjustments to water system rates and fees — the county's first substantive rate review since 2019 — and sought the board's consensus to begin an ordinance process to update rates and notice them on utility bills.

The packet and presentation reflect recommendations from the Florida Rural Water Association. Staff said the proposal would not change some fees and would place other service and hourly charges on a cost-recovery basis, and that any ordinance would return to the board for public hearing and adoption. "What you see in the packet and on the screen are the proposed fees based on the recommendations from Florida Rural Water," staff said.

In the same item staff outlined five recommended legislative initiatives for the county's delegation: seek grant funding to complete Oaks Water Systems water-main replacement; request state support for landfill lining (estimated between $3 million and $5 million); request funding for a generator at the county government center to preserve operations during power outages; expand state housing purchase-assistance eligibility to include mobile, modular and manufactured homes; and support a statewide "Siren" program to provide fully staffed ambulances at state expense.

A delegation representative present noted a tighter budget outlook in the coming legislative session but called the listed projects "shovel-ready" and said demonstrated local match and readiness would increase the chances of funding. The board expressed general consensus to proceed and directed staff to finalize materials for the delegation process; staff also noted that the ordinance process for rate changes requires public notice and subsequent hearings before adoption.

No final ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the board agreed to move forward with staff preparing the ordinance language for a future hearing and publishing required notices.