Largo commission approves multiple utility rate increases, budget amendments and annexation; recreation fee changes advance

The Largo City Commission on Tuesday approved a package of ordinances that will raise several utility fees, adopt budget amendments including funds for hurricane recovery, and annex a commercial property into the city.

Among the most immediate impacts, the commission adopted a 10% solid-waste rate increase (Ordinance 2025-27) and a 5% wastewater rate increase (Ordinance 2025-28) that takes effect Oct. 1, 2025. City staff told commissioners the wastewater change is expected to generate about $2 million for fiscal 2026; a typical residential customer using roughly 4,000 gallons would see an estimated $2.41 monthly increase, with customers at the 10,000-gallon cap seeing about $3.61 more per month. The stormwater utility rate was also increased by 15% (Ordinance 2025-29), an action staff said will generate roughly $1.8 million and raise the average residential bill by about $2.31 monthly.

“Option 2 is a 10% rate increase,” staff said when presenting the solid-waste ordinance; staff also summarized wastewater and stormwater impacts and answered commissioner questions on how the new revenue would be used for operating…