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Tampa Bay Water adopts $223.8 million FY2027 budget; uniform rate set near $2.66 per 1,000 gallons
Summary
The Tampa Bay Water board voted 6–1 on May 18 to approve its FY2027 operating budget and a $291.4 million Capital Improvement Program; the uniform rate is set at about $2.66 per 1,000 gallons with a $4 million draw from rate stabilization funds.
The Tampa Bay Water board on May 18 approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget and the agency's capital improvement program, passing the measure 6–1.
Christina Sackett, the agency’s chief financial officer, told the board the proposed uniform rate for fiscal year 2027 is “slightly below $2.66 per 1,000 gallons,” including a variable component of about $0.62 per 1,000 gallons. Sackett said the total proposed FY2027 costs are $223.8 million, roughly $4.4 million more than the current year, and that staff plan to use $4 million from the rate stabilization account to minimize the rate increase. She said projected demand for the year is 212.84 million gallons per day and that the agency is requesting a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment and a performance‑based merit program of up to 3%.
The board’s approval includes resolution 2026‑001 to adopt the operating budget and the estimated FY2027 Capital Improvement Program, which staff estimated at $291.4 million and noted includes 43 active projects. Sackett said three projects account for 67% of the CIP spend: the South Hillsborough Pipeline segments A and B (about 42% of the CIP) and the surface water treatment plant expansion (about 25%). Staff told the board they expect roughly 5% of capital will be pay‑as‑you‑go, 9% from member government joint project agreements and about 86% funded by revenue bonds, with approximately $20.1 million in anticipated reimbursements from grants and co‑funding partners.
A member of the public, David Ballard Geddis Jr., of Palm Harbor, used his public‑comment time during the budget hearing to criticize utility fee structures and bond charges that appear on customer bills, framing his remarks with rhetorical references to Monopoly and the Declaration of Independence.
After public comment the board moved to adopt the budget. The roll‑call vote recorded Chair Hanecwicz, Vice Chair Weightman, Commissioner Cohen, Mayor Davis, Commissioner Oakley and Commissioner Peters in favor and Councilman Miranda opposed; the motion carried 6–1.
The agency will post the adopted budget and supporting documents on its website and bring related bond and refunding resolutions to the board for formal action in July, staff said.
