By Lisa ZahnerVERO BEACH – During a televised public meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Vero Beach City Council will consider a first reading of a Resolution to raise combined water and sewer rates 37 percent in October for the average residential customer.The new rates are part of a strategy devised by consultant Public Resources Management Group to meet the revenue needs of operating, maintaining and improving the water and sewer utilities while continuing to support the City’s general fund through direct transfers and administrative fees charged for every one of the utility’s 160 employees. The base water rate for a single-family residential customer inside the city with a 5/8-inch meter is set to go up to $13.60 in October and then up each year, reaching $15.20 in 2013. The same rate for outside the city will be $14.96 in October, rising to $16.72 in 2013.Base sewer rates for a single-family residential customer inside the city with a 5/8-inch are set to go up to $19.89 in October and then up each year, reaching $22.29 in 2013. The same rate for outsid the city will be $21.88 in October, rising to $24.52 in 2013.The City also plans to institute tiers for consumption rates to encourage conservation, with the per gallon charge to be set at 83 cents for zero to 5,000 gallons and then jumping to $2.78 per gallon for usage over 5,000 gallons for city residents. Customers who live outside the city will pay 92 cents for up to 5.000 gallons of potable water, jumping to $3.06 for usage of more than 5,000 gallons. At previous public meetings on the topic, the tier rates have been described by residents as not “family friendly” because they penalize households with several children.Commercial rates are set to be increased as well.Electric rates are not scheduled to be discussed at this meeting, as those public hearings have been delayed until Sept. 15.
