SEACOAST UTILITY AUTHORITY

PROPOSED WATER/SEWER RATE INCREASE
TO BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2009

Following is a chronology of Seacoast Utility Authority (“SUA”) rate actions taken throughout its 21 year history.

December 1988
General (10%) rate increase to support utility acquisition

June 1994
Rates restructured; half of residential customers’ bills decline or unchanged

April 2006
Though SUA staff reduced by 19 positions since 1988, inflation necessitates a general rate increase

May 2008
South Florida Water Management District water use restrictions reduce economic subsidy provided by high volume users, Seacoast enacts fixed surcharge

July 2009
SUA Board sets public hearing dates for consideration of the following changes:

  • Repeal May 2008 Surcharge
  • Enact rate structure that considers recent unforeseeable revenue losses and cost increases
  • Implement rate indexing – annual adjustments tied to government utility cost index

 

A comparative schedule of current and proposed rates appears on the reverse side of this notice. (see schedule)

BILLING IMPACT SUMMARY

If enacted as proposed, the average single family residential water and sewer customer’s (6,000 gallon) monthly billing will increase by $4.84 (10.7%), multi-family by $3.22 (7.6%), and non-residential customer by 4.0 - 15.4%.  Both the dollar value and percentage increase will be substantially greater for high volume water users and customers with larger meters.

OBJECTIVE

Fully fund water treatment system improvements yielding the following public health and environmental benefits:

  • Significantly improve drinking water quality (eliminate color) using membrane technologies
  • Eliminate the need to landfill non-recyclable, non-biodegradable lime sludge
  • Increase Seacoast’s water recycling capacity by 50%
  • Replace Seacoast’s 53-year old lime softening water plant with nanofiltration/reverse osmosis systems
  • Utilize brackish Floridan aquifer water to meet future water supply needs

 

The SUA Board has set two public hearing dates at which the rate consultant’s recommendations will be reviewed.  The consultant will provide a detailed presentation of proposed rates at Hearing No. 1 and will respond to public questions and comments at that time.  Final Seacoast Utility Authority consideration of the proposed rate ordinance will take place at Hearing No. 2.

HEARING NO. 1
Presentation of Proposed Rates, Public Questions and Comments

DATE AND TIME: TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2009 at 7:00 PM
LOCATION: JUNO BEACH TOWN CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS
340 OCEAN DRIVE, JUNO BEACH (See Map)

HEARING NO. 2
Public Questions and Comments
Final Seacoast Board Consideration

DATE AND TIME: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
LOCATION: SEACOAST UTILITY AUTHORITY BOARD ROOM
4200 HOOD ROAD, PALM BEACH GARDENS (See Map)

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF RATE PROPOSAL

The rate consultant's report will be available at www.sua.com/ and in Seacoast’s lobby (4200 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens) beginning August 5, 2009.
 
PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 286.0105: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board, council, agency, or commission at this meeting, such person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.