Edgewater, FL - Edgewater residents and businesses will see a nine percent increase in their utility bill effective October 1, 2019. A number of residents attended last night's (September 9) meeting to let the City Council know that they are very much against the hike. Many of them live on a fixed income and might have to make the choice of paying the utility bill or buying food. District 4 Councilman Gary Conroy voted NO to the increase, saying he is there to represent the people and they say they can not afford the increase. District 3 Councilwoman Megan O'Keefe also voted NO against the increase.
After much discussion and public comments from the residents, it was decided to hold off on any increase for solid waste for at least four months. Councilman Conroy stated that he'd like to find a happy medium in the rate increases. Councilwoman Kimberly Yaney, who voted YES to the water rate hike, asked if more information could be gathered pertaining to an increase for trash pickup. City Manager Glenn Irby said it could be done. The proposed 2020 budget shows $6,644,714 in projected revenue that would result from the increase proposed for solid waste.
The hike is part of a fee structure created by Public Resources Management Group last year. The study states that: “The main objective of our analysis was to develop proposed rates that will produce revenues sufficient to meet the projected expenditure requirements of each utility system.”
