Higher sewer bill cap sought

Residents could see their utility rates increase if county commissioners approve a recommendation increasing the wastewater billing cap.

The Hernando County Utilities Department is recommending adjusting the cap to 12,000 gallons per month from 6,000.

The wastewater billing cap is the maximum amount of metered water that is billed for sewer service.

"What it's going to translate to is increased utility costs, and we're going to get quite a bit of justification from staff why we need to do that," County Commissioner Dave Russell said.

Russell said it's not something the county wants to do, but it's likely essential to bring the county into line.

"We're still saving taxpayers a ton of money by regulating (utilities) ourselves instead of bringing in a company to regulate it," Russell said. "We're required, obviously, to keep the system solvent, provide capacity to meet the needs and to keep the system in good repair."

Currently, customers producing more than 6,000 gallons per month are not being charged for transmission, collection and treatment of that additional flow. That means more conservative users are subsidizing the cost of service for the higher users.

Increasing the cap will largely affect only the higher-use customers and encourage water conservation, which allows the county to comply with the per-capita requirements of its water use permit conditions.

Residents using 6,000 gallons or less per month will not be affected.

The cap adjustment will also help support capital improvement projects, the majority of which are wastewater projects.

Director of Environmental Services Susan Goebel said in a memo that Citrus County is the only county with a cap lower than Hernando and that commissioners there are preparing to recommend raising their cap to 10,000 gallons per month.

Goebel said the revenue generated will vary depending on customer usage but she expects it to range from an extra $500,000 to $1 million.

County commissioners will discuss the item during their meeting that begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Also on the agenda:

• Commissioners will discuss the issuance of a special exception use permit to Paul Hargis of Spring Hill, who wants to sell firearms from his home.

The planning and zoning board has already recommended approval. But commissioners decided to reconsider the decision after hearing from outraged neighbors along Hague Court.

• Commissioners will consider a resolution calling for a referendum on the November general election to continue the mosquito control levy.

Last July, commissioners directed the attorney's office to prepare a resolution calling for a referendum asking voters whether they wanted the board to continue levying up to 0.1 mills for mosquito control services.

If approved, the levy would become a "voted millage" for the purposes of determining the county's maximum millage rate.

To view the entire agenda, visit http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/.