WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — Winter Springs city leaders voted Monday night in favor of an ordinance that will increase residents’ monthly water bills next year by 18%. 

What You Need To Know

  • Winter Springs city leaders voted in favor to adopt an ordinance increasing utility rates 

  • Residents would see their water bills double over the course of five years; the first hike would begin in January 2024

  • Residents will see an additional $10 to $12 on their monthly water bills

Water bills would double over the course of five years, and it would directly affect the water and waste-water portions of the utility bills. 

The proposal addresses the badly needed infrastructure improvements, including replacing two wastewater plants, that city leaders say are necessary.

“I mean, it’s no secret that our utilities infrastructure is aging and we need to come up with a plan that takes care of that,” said Bilal Iftikhar, Winter Springs director of utilities.

The first vote for the ordinance passed in November, with city leaders voting unanimously 4 - 0.

Residents are concerned about the significant increase in a community where most people are living on a fixed income.

“Yeah, $1 or $2 increase a year, no problem. Every year I mean. But when you do it as much, and people say it’s only $7 to $10 a month. [For] some people, that’s going to put them in crisis,” said resident Leah Weisman.

But other residents saw the reason behind the increase.

“There’s no free lunch, and I do enjoy the convenience of flushing my toilet. These things need to be fixed. And the sooner the better,” resident Karen Meyer said.

Before the meeting, Mayor Kevin McCann said if they approve the ordinance, residents will see an additional $10 to $12 on their monthly bill each year until it eventually tappers off and decreases again.

McCann said he understands residents aren’t comfortable with rates being raised, but that it’s necessary for the infrastructure improvements within the city.

“We have two wastewater plants that have been neglected and we need to replace them,” said McCann. “Quite frankly, the infrastructure is past its life expectancy. And it is having leaks, it’s having failures. And we want to protect the Florida environment. We are responsible stewards to the environment, and it needs to be done.”

McCann said the improvements are way past due, and he believes city commissioners are in a difficult position because previous leaders did not address the issue sooner.

“We understand that it was going to be a difficult decision and that the work was going to be difficult and that rates were going to go up. But I would challenge elected officials to do the right thing and be proactive on these issues rather than leaving a mess for later commissions to clean up,” he said.

Residents said they hope the city will create a detailed plan for how they will use the money over time, as well as explaining if the rate increases are going to be affordable for residents before the second hearing and final adoption of the ordinance.

City officials said the project could cost around $100 million. However, they are looking at other funding options, like grants.

The first rate hike will take effect in January 2024. Despite the increase, city officials say they would still have one of the lowest utility rates in Seminole County. They are currently the second lowest, according to the mayor.

Monday’s city commission meeting started at 6:30 p.m.