Florida Record
Polk County
High PriorityWater Utilitiesopen

$250 Million Utility Revenue Bonds

Summary

Consultants recommend roughly doubling reclaimed water rates to match potable irrigation rates, raising connection fees to $11,449 per home, adding a septage fee, and issuing $218 million in bonds for $1 billion in capital needs. Commissioners said they need more time before a July 21 hearing.

At a glance

Total mentions
4
Last 30 days
0

Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 15, 2026.

Impact analysis

💰Financial impact

Typical combined water/wastewater bills would rise about 7% a year; reclaimed water rates for heavy users could roughly double by October.

✅Who benefits

Long-term system stability and new capacity funded partly by development connection fees rather than existing ratepayers.

⚠️Who could be affected

Heavy reclaimed water users and long-time residents facing sharply higher bills, per concerns raised by Commissioners Braswell, Troutman and Scott.

Mentions & discussions (4)

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