Cape Coral water rates to increase 11% for the next 3 years

Published: Updated:
North Cape Coral well water system. (Credit: WINK News)

Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution to increase the rates for water services in the city.

The increased rates are meant to benefit the Utilities Expansion Project which plans to bring city water to all of Cape Coral.

The rate increase to operate the system, provide debt services and increase capacity and commodity charges is 11% per year for the next three years. The first billing period begins Oct. 1.

There will also be a 5% increase in water, wastewater, and fire line rates, which will take effect on Oct. 1, 2027.

Some Cape Coral residents are unhappy with the rate increase. Vincent Smiley is a Cape Coral resident, and he is struggling to pay his current expenses.

“It’s expensive for me since I moved here,” Smiley said. “I was on homestead and my taxes doubled. Now they are $10,000, $11,000 now. My homeowner’s insurance nearly doubled since the hurricane. I’m having trouble getting insurance, and my flood insurance went up about 30% to 40%, and we still haven’t heard from FEMA that I’m aware of.”

Even though the forecast calls for a 5 percent increase, the city will prepare annual studies to see if any adjustments are needed in the future.

The rates could change due to factors such as construction costs or inflation.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.