St. Petersburg residents will see their utility bills rise by an average of $12.73 per month starting October 1, following a City Council vote on September 4 to increase rates by approximately 8.5%.

The rate increases are intended to fund the St. Pete Agile Resilience Program, which fast-tracks infrastructure projects designed to strengthen the city’s systems against increasingly severe storms and flooding.

Hurricane Damage Exposes Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

The decision comes after Hurricane Helene highlighted critical weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure. Officials shut down the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility to protect it from storm surge, leaving a quarter of St. Petersburg residents without working toilets for nearly three days. The facility, the city’s lowest-lying treatment plant, had been identified as vulnerable to storm surge since at least 2022.

During the hurricane, nearly 1.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled onto city streets after overwhelming drainage and treatment systems.

Rate Breakdown by Service

The approved increases vary by utility service:

• Water: 6.25%
• Wastewater: 7.75%
• Reclaimed water: 9.75%
• Stormwater: 17.5%
• Trash collection and disposal: 7%

Council Members Weigh Costs vs. Necessity

Council member Brandi Gabbard acknowledged concerns about burdening residents with higher bills but emphasized the long-term financial benefits of proactive infrastructure investment. “We know that these investments are going to have to be done at some point,” she said. “Just when? And will they be done before the next storm comes?”

Council member Corey Givens Jr., representing a district with high poverty rates, said he has received complaints from constituents about the additional financial burden. However, he noted the urgency of addressing infrastructure problems before they worsen.

Alternative Funding Considered

The City Council previously considered a referendum allowing residents to vote on issuing bonds to fund infrastructure projects. However, Gabbard expressed concern about timing, noting that Governor Ron DeSantis is pursuing a 2026 state constitutional amendment to cut property taxes.

The utility rate increases come as many St. Petersburg residents are already facing higher electricity bills this summer, adding to concerns about affordability in the community.

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