WCOM NEWS

6-02-04

Miramar residents face rising fees for services

MIRAMAR--The cost for water, sewer and fire services may rise for Miramar residents, depending on where they live.

While the cost for fire services for eastern residents may go up, their sewer rates will remain the same.

Western residents may pay less for fire services, but sewer fees could go up.

Water rates for everyone may rise about 50 cents, per thousand gallons.

Commissioners will vote on the new fire fee, as well as water and sewer rates at 7 tonight at City Hall, 6700 Miramar Parkway.

A $169 fire assessment would mean all residents pay the same for fire services. Currently, they are paid through property taxes, which are based on the size of a home.

Eastern residents, whose homes are smaller and who have traditionally paid less than those out west, have collected about 100 signatures protesting the proposed change.

"We don't want our taxes to go up. They are high enough," said Grace Rodriguez, of Miramar Isles. "Let me tell you, the residents are not happy at all.''

The petition will be presented to commissioners at the meeting, she said.

Miramar's proposed assessment is much higher than fire fees in Pembroke Pines ($74.98 per residence); Hollywood ($93 per residence); and Davie, $58.

Businesses, meanwhile, would also pay more, depending on their size and type.

To make up for the higher cost, city officials hope to lower the property tax rate.

The fee charged homes and businesses would raise about $7 million of the $13 million budgeted to pay for fire services in the fiscal year. The rest would come through property taxes.

City Manager Bob Payton said the assessment would provide eastern residents with new equipment, fire stations and 60 new employees in the next 10 years.

"We are not building any new western fire stations. We have impact fee money that has paid for that," he said. "No western facilities are being funded by this fire service fee."

The increase for drinking water and wastewater rates are needed to cover costs associated with a growing population, rising operating costs and maintaining reserves.

Tonight, commissioners will also vote whether to raise the rate for drinking water by 7.5 percent effective in July, and will consider merging the cost of wastewater. That means all residents will pay the same base sewer fee. Currently, eastern residents pay $11.50 and western residents about $7.

"The wastewater is not going up in the east, it is remaining constant," Miramar Mayor Lori Moseley said. "And the west will be phased in over two years to bring it to the same level, $11.50, as the east."

(source) Sun Sentinel (Lori Sykes) 6-02-04