OVIEDO, Fla. — Members of the public are weighing in on a plan that could raise water rates in Oviedo by hundreds of dollars per month.

By 2027, residents could be paying $441 per month. After that, it would decrease.

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Oviedo is considering raising water rates by hundreds of dollars per month

  • By 2027, residents could be paying $441 per month, but after that, the number would decrease to $220 in 2028

  • The reason for this change, Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek says, is because the city needs to fund a new water treatment facility

  • Sladek says the aquifer is reaching capacity and has put the city of Oviedo is under a mandatory water restriction

Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek says this push for change is necessary now because the city needs to fund a new $70 million water treatment facility.

Sladek says the aquifer is reaching capacity and has put the city of Oviedo is under a mandatory water restriction.

The mayor believes in finding a long-term solution. 

She wants community feedback because when people learn of the hefty price tag, it’s a tough pill to swallow. 

“$440 a month for an entire year, I look at that and my eyes pop,” said Sladek. “But at the same time, I see how it can be a long-term benefit to residents, so we need to know, where do people want us to strike that balance?”

For one area resident, they are going with the flow when it comes to the city’s plan.

“Somebody has to make the decisions that are unpopular. If you want lower bills now, and no water 4, 5, 6, 7 years from now, then vote them out,” said Jim Cook, who lives in Oviedo. 

Sladek knows this conversation is not an easy one, but it is one to be had.

While prices would rise through 2027, fees would go back down to $220 in 2028.

“I think it’s a discussion worth having,” said Sladek. “Asking people, are you willing to bite the bullet for a couple of years so that you get the compound interest savings and we’re not paying it to investors forever?”

Her message to the taxpayer is this. 

“I’m not trying to sell one direction over the other. I just want people to know here are the extremes of the choices. And is there something in between? Absolutely,” said Sladek. “We can borrow less than all, we can borrow it for less than 30 years, we can do any number of things to try to be nimble financially.”

The city is also looking to raise the stormwater rate to help gather $9 million to enhance and maintain the stormwater system that was impacted by Hurricane Ian.