Resident testifies he is contesting proposed Crystal Clear impact-fee increase

Joseph Benavides, introduced to the commission as a board participant in local water-utility matters, urged residents to attend Crystal Clear board meetings and described his ongoing protest of a proposed impact-fee increase. He told the commission he was the only customer who filed a formal protest and that the matter has been referred to state administrative proceedings. "I feel that Crystal Clear gouges their customers because they have no choice," Benavides said.

Benavides said residents can sign in at Crystal Clear board meetings (he listed the usual meeting schedule and location) and that citizen participation has prompted the board to become more responsive. He also said he has not yet received underlying data needed to contest the fee and expects to engage engineers or expert witnesses to review the utility's hydraulic and financial models. He encouraged neighbors to exercise the three-minute public-comment opportunities at the utility's board meetings rather than relying on social media.

Why it matters: changes to impact fees and utility pricing can affect household costs, new-construction charges and development economics. Benavides described a pending administrative process but did not present a final decision; the outcome remains with the utility and the state hearing process.