Why Is My Water Bill Going Up In Hallandale Beach

The event is filled with fun for the entire family: bounce houses, entertainment, activities, Flag Football Tournament-Hallandale Beach Police vs. PAL Coaches, a Resource Fair, Home Depot Tree giveaways, a Health Fair, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Emergency fleet display, Smatt Tennis Academy and Sloane Stephens Foundation Tennis & Pickleball Demos and so much more.

General admission includes a free sack pack for the first 1,000 attendees and free entry for a chance to win a raffle prize. Raffle prizes include brand new flat screen TVs, gift cards to Home Depot, IHop, Denny’s Chick Fil A, Marshalls, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Sierra and more. You must register to be entered into the raffle and be present to win.

As we continue to replace and repair our underground Infrastructure, it is vital that residents understand where the revenue comes from to pay for 275.5 projected costs. Last week, I wrote about property taxes. The other part of the revenue equation includes shared revenues and fees.

The largest portion of Share Revenues are sales tax. There is a state formula. For 2025, we are guaranteed approximately $500,000 and if the state continues to allocate as in the past we may receive up to $1.7 Million. This is a small percentage of our annual budget which this year includes over eighty-seven million dollars in infrastructure projects.

Property Taxes help to pay for services but not all services. Utility Fees are what pays for water wastewater, stormwater and sanitation services. These combined with general fund dollars make our city work. I will focus on the “water portion” this week.

Utility rates are set annually. The revenue generated by the rates can be bonded. This type of bond is called Revenue Bond. Without the guarantee of their revenues such state and federal grants we must financially plan to address the safe and secure delivery of fresh water, sanitary sewer and now increasing stormwater management.

In 2022, we started implementing many of our projects with the understanding that once the Revenue Bond was approved, the Utility Fund would be reimbursed to keep the fund stable. We implemented a Capital Improvement 5 Year Plan (CIP), a Rate Study and a Reimbursement Resolution. We also remain focused on applying for all available grants and State Revenue Funds (SRF) to offset the costs to our residents. Last year, we were presented with the rate study.

The funding of the 275-million-dollar CIP was placed in two Phases. The Bond value would be up to 227 million. Phase I rate increase that covers 2025 to 2028 and requires cumulative increases of 31.88% on water, 23.27% for wastewater and 33.10% for stormwater. So, what does that equate to in dollars per month?

Residents need to understand the rate structure. There is a base charge and then a consumption rate. This method provides that every user pays their fair share of the overall costs for providing water. Rather than increasing the consumption rate to pay for production treatment pumping and pipes there is a base and fee instead of consumption.

For water, the increase for this year was 3.54 more per month or 35.37 to 38.91. Consumption increased by nineteen cents per gallon at 0-2000 use level and a few more pennies per gallon as use goes up... Wastewater was 1.66, 23.67 to 25.33 and 34 cents for usage, respectively.

If you live in a condominium the main difference is meter sizes. Condominium buildings are charged the same way as base and usage. The one difference with stormwater is the ERU rate is charged according to the previous ground coverage.

Stormwater is not calculated the same way. It is based on equivalent residential units. The ERU is a month flat rate. The rate increase of 10% is .89 or 8.92 to 9.81.

The average utility bill for 63% of our residents runs approximately $146.80. Water base rate 35.37, 13.15 for consumption 23.57 sewer base rate 30.97 consumption, Garbage Residential 27.87, Recycling Fee 2.00, drainage (stormwater) 8.92 and water utility tax at 4.85. If you use more water the bill goes up. If you use a sprinkler to water your lawn and have a separate meter for it, you pay the base and consumption excluding the sewer rate.

We are extremely sensitive that many residents and businesses are struggling but we must fix our systems. This is not a want but a need. To help, we have decided to smooth out the increases over three years rather than jump to the full rate. So, there will be increases in the next years as follows; Water in 2026 will increase 8%. 2027 by 7 % and 2028 by 3.75%. Wastewater 2026 by 5.5%, 2027 by 5.5 %, and 2028 by 3.75 and stormwater by 10 % each year.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!