St. Petersburg residents could soon be paying more for water, sewer and trash service as city council members prepare to vote Thursday on a fresh round of utility rate increases.

City officials say the utility rate hikes are needed to fund infrastructure improvement projects, with the new rates set to take effect Oct. 1 if approved, according to city documents. The estimates are based on a household using 3,500 gallons of water monthly and classified as a Tier 2 stormwater property.

The increases would hit residents across the board: a 7.5% revenue increase for drinking water, 6.5% for wastewater, 9.75% for reclaimed water, 8.5% for stormwater, and 6% for sanitation. City officials say the figures stem from an annual utility study examining operating and capital costs across St. Petersburg’s five public systems.

Not everyone on the council is sold. Some members have raised concerns that residents are now being asked to cover the cost of infrastructure work the city put off for years, effectively asking today’s ratepayers to make up for past inaction at City Hall. Others argue the upgrades are necessary to make the city’s aging systems more resilient to storms.

Residents will have a chance to weigh in before any vote is finalized. A public hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. at City Hall, giving taxpayers the opportunity to challenge the rationale behind another increase before it hits their bills.

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