Bradenton residents will likely see an increase in their water and sewer bills starting Oct. 1.
Bradenton City Council will consider today whether to increase water and sewer rates because of increased costs for fuel, chemicals and electricity.
Under the new rates, water will increase for customers by $2.17 a month, a 7.25 percent increase.
Sewer is proposed to increase by $2.09 a month, equivalent to 6.1 percent.
Claude Tankersley, director of public works, said the city has seen a 56 percent increase in chemical costs over the past year.
That breaks down to a $475,000 increase for chemicals used to treat water and a $431,000 increase for chemicals to treat sewer, Tankersley said.
Factor in the increases in fuel and electricity along with chemicals, and Tankersley said the increase for water amounts to $511,000 and $490,000 for sewer.
"That's the biggest increase I've seen," Tankersley said. "To have a 56 percent increase in one year, I have not seen that in my career."
Bradenton's proposal to increase rates comes about two weeks after the Manatee County Board of Commissioners approved increases for water and waste rates.
Starting Oct. 1, Manatee County's water rates will increase by 7.7 percent, or an average of about $4.
The rising cost of electricity and fuel for the county, also, was passed on to residents.
"We knew that our expenses we're going to go up, too," Tankersley said. "The proposed increases, that was calculated to cover these shortfalls. Basically, we're just passing on the increase to our customers as we see them."
Bradenton City Council meets at 6 p.m. today.
E-Mail
Print
Quick Job Search
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@