Tequesta council adopts a package of utility and service fee changes, approves insurance and benefits renewals

At its Aug. 12 meeting the Village of Tequesta council approved multiple financial and service items intended to shore up enterprise funds, maintain operations and improve cost recovery.

Refuse and recycling: Staff explained the refuse and recycling fund has drawn reserves and recommended a rate adjustment to reflect contract CPI changes and to resume collection of indirect costs. The council adopted the proposed assessment (presented as $19.56 in staff materials) after staff compared neighboring municipalities’ rates and emphasized the village’s competitive position. One councilor supported only the contract portion and opposed a small proposed 3.5% village fee recovery; the motion to adopt the resolution carried.

Stormwater: Utilities director Marjorie Craig requested a 5% increase to the stormwater non‑ad valorem assessment (about $4.51 annually for the base residential unit) to support required system maintenance, MPDES compliance and planned capital projects (including the Dover Ditch work). The council approved the increase after staff noted multiyear stormwater spending.

Benefits and insurance: Human resources proposed benefits renewals for health, dental, group life and the employee assistance program; the benefits committee recommended moving the medical plan to Florida Blue effective Oct. 1, 2025 at an estimated budgeted increase consistent with prior assumptions. The council also approved property and casualty renewals with FMIT and related ancillary coverages after staff reported a modest net change year over year and noted improvements in the village's workers’ compensation experience modifier.

Personnel: Council authorized a temporary increase of one firefighter position (to be absorbed by attrition later) to smooth staffing and training needs.

EMS transport fees: In a separate action council approved a one‑time 15% increase to EMS transport fees across categories. Staff said the village had fallen to the low end of county transport fees because CPI adjustments were not applied over several years; the increase is intended to align charges nearer the county median and to help the department break even on transports. The chief and billing contractor told council the professional billing firm has reduced write‑offs and improved collections, and staff said most Medicare patients will see supplemental insurance cover the bulk of the increased charge in many cases. Council members asked staff to continue monitoring write‑offs and to consider future CPI indexing of fees to avoid large intermittent adjustments.

Other actions: Council approved a piggyback agreement for utility repairs, accepted a Dover Ditch FDEP grant time extension, and approved first‑amendment renewal of a long‑standing fire rescue agreement with Jupiter Inlet Colony that freezes rates for the first five years and prescribes escalators thereafter.

What residents should know: The refuse, stormwater and EMS fee changes will appear on future bills or assessments; residents with questions about stormwater or billing allocation were invited to contact utilities staff, who committed to follow up with at‑large commenters about specific assessment calculations.