City commissioners discuss water rate increase
By Chris Butler
staff writer
STUART—The average water bill for Stuart residents may
increase by $7 per month if Stuart City Commissioners
approve a set of proposals currently before them.
Commissioners are considering the proposals, made to
them by a Maitland-based financial consulting firm, to
allow the city’s budget to keep up with inflation.
The first proposed ordinance would levy a utility tax
of 2 percent on city water users.
Commissioner Carol Waxler said she had concerns about
the proposal, especially after hurricanes Jeanne and
Frances ravaged Martin County.
“This tax, assuming it goes through, couldn’t come at
a worse time,” she said.
If approved, the tax increase is expected to generate
$60,000 for the fiscal year.
A second proposed ordinance, meanwhile, would raise
water rates by 12 percent, although Commissioner
Jeffrey Krauskopf said he prefers something lower,
around 8 percent.
Henry Thomas, with Public Resources Management,
however, told commissioners an 8 percent increase
wasn’t enough, prompting commissioners to say a 10
percent compromise was possible.
The 10 percent compromise was scheduled for discussion
at the ordinance’s second reading, Dec. 20.
About five Stuart residents came to protest the rate
increase.
One, Anne Miller, an East Stuart resident, told
commissioners they never take the realities of life
among the city’s low-income residents into account.
Another, Gayle Sudore, who said she was a low income
resident, told commissioners she couldn’t afford a
utility rate increase.
“This is nothing but a double whammy on Stuart,” Ms.
Sudore said.
“A $7 rate increase may seem small to you, but to many
people that’s their milk on the table and gas for
their cars,” she added.
Public Resources Management recently conducted a water
and wastewater study to help the city determine what
water rates should be.
The city of Stuart hasn’t conducted a formal rate
study for water and wastewater since 1996.
Mayor Michael Mortell said the average water bill,
currently $61.59, will increase to $68.98 if the
proposal passes.
“A $7.39 increase is not astronomical,” Mayor Mortell
said.
“We sucked it up for 10 years rather than raise the
rates. We’re not trying to drop a bomb on the city of
Stuart,” he added.
Not taking action now, the mayor said, will put the
city in tremendous debt.
“The easy thing to do is go into ostrich mood, and put
our heads under the sand,” Mayor Mortell said.