Should property tax reforms sweep across Florida next year and city governments scramble to replace lost revenue, Indian River Shores is worried Vero Beach will impose punishing surcharges and higher rates on water-sewer customers outside the city limits to further pad its general fund.
Vero Beach Utilities serves water-sewer customers in Indian River Shores and the unincorporated part of South Beach. Rates for all customers have recently spiked to fund system upgrades and construction of the city’s $164 million wastewater treatment plant at the airport. More rate hikes are expected next year.
State statute permits municipal-owned utilities to add surcharges to the bills of customers who reside outside the city limits, and recent legislative efforts to provide relief to outside customers have either failed, or been drafted too narrowly to have statewide impact…