Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/329100
week after their briefing, during their June 16 regular meeting, to advertise a public hearing to consider the rate hike. A chart presented by the Utility Department shows the current typical monthly bill is $71.24, but that would jump to $75.52 in October and $80.05 the next year. Why a 12 percent jump in two years? Half the increase is necessitated by utilities work demanded by the creation of 14 traffic round- abouts. Tidwell said he wanted to run new pipes under all 14 intersections while the opportunity presents itself. The prior utilities capital improvement program did not include the roundabout re-dos. The utilities effort is estimated to cost $7.7 million. "The [Florida Department of Transportation] demands the money be available upfront before they begin the projects," said Tidwell. The city commissioners earlier asked the Utilities Department to fund its maintenance and capital improvements without resorting to bond issues or other borrowing. In the long term, paying cash saves the finance costs, which can — as with a home mortgage — lead to a total expense being twice as much as the cost originally would have been. While the roundabout re-dos might be consid- ered optional, replacement of the 20-mile-long pipeline to the city's Verna well field in central Sarasota County is not. The well field served as the city's primary source of drinking water for decades; it has been supplemented by a reverse-osmosis plant on 12th Street. The pipeline is now a half-century old and needs replacement. That will account for $10 million in the future spending plan. "It's start- ing to experience problems," said Tidwell of the structure. He displayed a heavily corroded flange bolt to show the age of the system. LOOKING FOR SAVINGS Tidwell manipulated the old capital improve- ment plan to push some projects off for a decade or more. Several planned extensions to the water reuse system will be deferred, saving $2 million. Rehabilitation planned for the wastewater treatment plan will also be delayed, saving $1 million. Other projects will proceed but with reduced funding. Rehabilitation plans for water and The City of Sarasota enables customers to calculate their water bills online. Image from sarasotagov.com Sarasota News Leader June 13, 2014 Page 29