Posted in North Miami Beach

North Miami Poised to Raise Water Rates

   April 20, 2012  Leave a comment

Message from North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin:

 
North Miami Poised to
Raise Water Rates
What Will it Mean to YOUR Bill?
At the North Miami City Council meeting this coming Tuesday, April 24th, the Council is poised to finalize an increase in Water and Sewer rates.  At our meeting two weeks ago, the Council approved a study that suggested we raise those rates.  It was a 3-2 vote, with Councilman Blynn and I opposing.  All that’s left on April 24th is a second and final vote on the matter.  The meeting starts at City Hall at 7:00 pm if you want to learn more or voice your opinion.
So what will this mean for YOUR utility bill?
The Water and Sewer hikes are big.  They’re designed that way in hopes of getting users to conserve water.
I took the time to review several different utility bills from across the city.  Eight were Residential bills, 3 were for mutli-family buildings, 3 were Sprinkler bills, and 11 were Commercial.  My sampling was unscientific, but here’s what I found!Oh, and as you calculate your own rates, use this handy chart from City Hall which has most of the mathematical equations needed!

Changes in the Way We Bill
The new policy changes several things about how we bill you.  Gone is the old “flat rate” that every household paid, with increases after that for amounts of water used. In its place is a tiered use system.  Click here for a chart of the new tiered rates for everyone.
Also new is a Base Meter Rate for all Meter sizes.  Click here for all Water Meter Base Rates.  You’ll notice that all users with a 3/4″ Meter will pay the same Base Rate, regardless of whether you’re Residential or Commercial.
But keep your eye on the Base Rates for larger Meters in the Commercial and Sprinkler categories.
Single-Family Residential
Water and Sewer rates are about to jump.  But despite that, most households will see an overall decrease in your Utility bill….as long as you don’t water your lawn very often.  The decrease is mostly made possible by our recent move to privatize garbage pick-up.

For instance, I used 10,000 gallons of water in the last billing cycle.  Under the old rates, I was charged $34.11 for water and $10.57 for sewer on a recent bill.  Under the new rates, that jumps to $39.90 for water and $27.03 for sewer.

But because of privatization, my Sanitation rate drops from about $142.00 to $78.00 for the quarter.  Granted, I’ve still not had a chance to study the new garbage rates in-depth, but I’ll give the benefit of doubt in accepting that savings to hold true.
In fact, my reviews show the average household realizing savings of around $60 per quarter.
But watch out if you water your lawn!

I found dramatic increases for the meters that measure your sprinkler water use.  The new plan charges $3.18 per 1,000 gallons of sprinkler water.  One bill that I reviewed saw the sprinkler charge jump from $124.00 under the old plan to $252.00 under the new.  Another increased by $138.00.  So that would erase any prior savings from garbage privatization.

Click here to see the Sprinkler rates.  Remember, you’ll need to also keep in mind the size of your Meter when calculating (see Meter Base Rate link above).

Commercial Rates
If you’re a business owner in North Miami, it’s more of a mixed bag.
When we privatized garbage collection, we took away the ability for business owners to negotiate with vendors for the best rates available.  By May 2015, it is now mandated that all business owners will be forced to go with Waste Pro, no matter what the rate.  Already, media reports indicate potential doubling of commercial rates.
As for Commercial Water and Sewer rates under the new plan, those bills I reviewed showed a savings of about $30 per quarter. Click here for the Commercial rate chart.
But keeping your landscaping green and lush is going to be more expensive.  You’ll pay more, the larger your Meter.  If you have a 4″ Meter, your Base Rate starts at $481.17 per month, not including actual Water use!
Multi-Family Buildings
This one is more tricky to figure out.  Some apartments/condos have their own individual Water meters. Others have a Master Meter for the entire building.And some buildings have as few as 4 units, while others have hundreds.

It’s best if you use the charts above and compare them to your bill.  Then, you can gauge your payments.
In Summary

There you have it.  It’s complicated and intricate.  But your tax dollars are at stake, so take the time to educate yourself.  I’m glad to see some apparent savings, but wish we would take more time to publicize this to the entire North Miami community.Please attend Tuesday’s Council meeting if you can!
Interesting Facts About the New Bill Practices
  • The old Recycling rates are now merged into the new Sanitation rates.  You won’t see them on your bill anymore.
  • If you pay extra for back yard pick up, you will continue to pay the same fee.
  • Your Capital Improvement Fees for Water and Sewer are merged into the new Water and Sewer fees.
  • All residents now pay a Base Water and Sewer Meter Fee.  No longer will residents pay different rates for different sized meters. Now, you pay $34.20 per cycle, no matter what.
  • We’ll now have a tiered Water and Sewer system.  The less water you use, the less you’ll pay.  The more you use, the higher your bill.
  • If you, for instance, use 24,000 gallons of water in a billing quarter, the Water Department simply divides that amount by 3 and bases your billing rate on that.
Please let me know if I can answer your questions!
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