Utility Tax Hike Moves Forward in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Petersburg utility customers may soon see higher bills to help foot the costs of repairing the city’s aging sewer system. The city’s Budget Finance and Taxation Commission voted unanimously Thursday to move the proposed hike forward.

Under the proposal, average monthly residential utility bills will rise between $3.73 or $5.60, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The money will help pay for repairs and replacements to the city’s sewer system.

Issues with the system have forced the release of more than 40 million gallons of raw and partially-treated wastewater into local bodies of water over the past year, the Times said.

The hike isn’t finalized just yet. It will go before the public at two hearings in September.

Read more on the Tampa Bay Times.

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