- October 10, 2024
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Starting Oct. 1, residents will see a 6% increase on their utility bills.
The Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved a rate adjustment for the city’s water and wastewater rate on Wednesday, Sept. 6. The 6% increases for both rates will help “mitigate the rising cost of operating expenses such as electricity, chemicals and necessary components to maintain the distribution and collection systems,” according to the city’s agenda item.
How much will your bill go up?
According to the city, the average customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water a month will pay $1.59 more — from about $26.47 to $28.06 for water. For wastewater, the average customer will see about a $2.06 increase, from $34.33 to $36.39.
In total, the average customer will see about a $3.65 increase on their utility bill.
Then on Sept. 30, 2024, as approved by the commission, utility users will see another 6% increase.
Three people spoke at the City Commission meeting regarding the water and wastewater rate increases.
Resident Nancy Bates asked the commission to vote against the increases to help seniors on fixed incomes.
“Our lot rents go up,” she said. “Our insurance has gone up. There’s increases in the amount of money we’re spending for gas and for food — the essentials of life. ... While I totally appreciate having clean water to drink, I wouldn’t like to have to choose between drinking my water or buying my medicine.”
Resident Jeff Boyle said that the notice put in the utility bill states the city’s operating costs have increased $2 million, but didn’t include a calculation of how much revenue the city needs, nor how much revenue the rate increase would generate.
The rate increases will negatively impact low-income households and seniors, more so than property tax increases, said Boyle, who is a former commissioner.
“The report says the rate increases are for operations and capital projects,” he said. “That means utility ratepayers are footing the bill for growth — a burden for little people who can least afford these rate hikes.”
The city has increased its water and wastewater rates 15 times since 1998. According to the city’s operating budget document, user fees are the primary revenue source for the water and wastewater fund, accounting for $21.8 million.
In addition to the water and wastewater rates, the commission unanimously approved a $7.53 monthly increas for residential waste collection and recycling at its meeting on Sept. 6. The increase will also go into effect on Oct. 1.
According to the agenda item, the city’s solid waste hauler — Waste Pro — continues to increase its cost of operations due to rising fuel and employment expenses. This cost is typically passed along in its entirety to the customer, the city states.
“While the city has previously subsidized a portion of the customer rate with Solid Waste Reserves, the rates must be adjusted to reflect the full rate paid to the solid waste hauler in order to keep the operation financially sound,” the agenda item states.
Like the water and wastewater rates, the solid waste rates will also increase again next year. On Sept. 30, 2024, the rates will go up by $1.87.
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent, who represents District 4, will host a community meeting from 5-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Holly Hill City Hall, located at 1065 S. Ridgewood Ave.
The city of Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea are part of District 4. This meeting is part of Kent’s quarterly “District Dialogue 4 Residents” series, according to a press release. Residents can ask questions and voice concerns.
The City Commission approved a $93,965 work authorization to Zev Cohen and Associates to replace the damaged seawall at Andy Romano Beachfront Park during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
The seawall was damaged during Hurricane Nicole. Zev Cohen, having designed the park in 2010, “has a detailed understanding of the park,” the agenda item states.
In addition, a new concrete ADA-compliant ramp will be integrated into the park’s design, to be located on the north side to better withstand storm impacts.
Three Ormond Beach organizations are among the 30 groups who are applying for funding from the Cultural Council of Volusia County.
The organizations — Ormond Beach Historical Society, Ormond Memorial Art Museum and the Daytona Beach Choral Society, which meets at the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church — have each received Community Cultural Grant grant funds in the past. In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Historical Society received over $15,000; OMAM received over $26,000; and the choral society received $788.
In June, the Volusia County Council — after considering a “reexamination” of the Cultural Council in April — listened to two hours of pleas from the local art community insisting the county continue to fund the arts. The Cultural Council awards over $600,000 in grant funds a year. The County Council ultimately voted 6-0 to let the Cultural Council remain active.
The meeting to review applications for the 2023-2024 Community Cultural Grant program will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at the County Council chambers in DeLand.
