St. Petersburg leaders are set to take a final vote Thursday on whether to raise utility rates to fund hundreds of millions in infrastructure improvements.

Mayor Ken Welch said the proposal would increase utility bills by 8–10% on average. The city estimates it needs roughly $614 million for stormwater and wastewater upgrades.

District 4 Council Member Lisset Hanewicz noted during an August meeting that stormwater rates alone would rise by 17.5%, based on the city’s utility rate study.

City officials argue that raising utility rates would allow projects to move forward sooner than relying on a property tax hike, which would require voter approval and could not be decided before November 2026.

The proposal cleared its first reading last month. A final vote is scheduled Thursday following a public hearing at the 5 p.m. City Council meeting.

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