St. Petersburg residents face a 17.5% stormwater rate increase in October, after a 25% hike last year. Many would like to see developers contribute more to long-overdue infrastructure projects.
Multiple public speakers supported the additional costs approved Thursday evening at the city’s final utility rate public hearing, as the 2024 storm season highlighted significant deficiencies. One noted that St. Petersburg lacks a stormwater-specific impact fee, unlike several other Florida cities.
Capital Improvements Director Brejesh Prayman noted officials are “moving very aggressively” to implement those fees. However, they will likely have to wait until October 2027 due to the ever-increasing number of state preemptions…