City Leaders Vote to Raise Stormwater, Streetlight Fees

New Port Richey’s elected leaders unanimously voted Tuesday to raise the city’s streetlight and stormwater fees.

The hike raises the stormwater fee from the annual rate of $40.32 per home to an annual rate of $77.36 per home.

The streetlight fee for a home will increase from the annual rate of $26.07 to the annual rate of $36.14.

City council members voted to approve the hikes after listening to folks in the room of 22 people complain  about the prospect of the higher fees and the city's response to flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby.

Don House, who owns property in the city, complained about flooding of his buildings. He believes a retention pond overflowed, and the city didn’t get the pumps running quick enough.

“To reward or give these people any extra money would be a terrible mistake,” he said.

Gilbert Jannelli owns a building he rents to Golden Tequila Mexican restaurant. He's a Clearwater optometrist and has an office on Grand Boulevard. He complained about the streetlight increase. He provides streetlighting at his property, he said.

"To be fair in this particular item, I should be able to opt out if I have sufficient lighting," he said.

City council members, confronted with dire financial projections, acknowledged this hike could be painful but is also necessary. The city deficit could reach $17 million over the next five years if financial holes are not plugged.

“We do listen to this,” said Mayor Bob Consalvo. “We take it to heart, and we’re doing everything we can to make life better in New Port Richey.”

Both the streetlight and stormwater funds had deficits this year.

The city’s debt-plagued redevelopment fund, which in the past subsidized the general fund, and will require infusions of general fund money to pay what it owes.

"Without these increases, the city’s general fund...would be liable for $1.9 million in additional costs over the next five years that it simply cannot afford to bear," city finance director Doug Haag has stated in a press release.

Councilman Bill Phillips has often wondered aloud why the city’s in the streetlight business and said that he would like to explore if New Port Richey can get out of it. However, he voted for the increase and acknowledged that the utility funds are out of balance and need to be dealt with.

"By taking this off the table, it will allow us to deal with the general fund challenge that we have," he said.

Deputy Mayor Rob Marlowe asked city staff to work on a report of the response Tropical Storm Debby.