Squeaky wheel, meet grease
Squeaky wheel, meet grease
A myriad of sensitive questions about the relationship between Citrus County government and the Florida Governmental Utilities Authority remain, but FGUA customers in Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs can now breathe a bit easier.
In response to a booming housing market, FGUA was moving forth with one-time $6,571 assessments per undeveloped lot in Pine Ridge, as well as for those who built on their lot in the past year. That money was to fund the extension of water lines. About 380 lot owners would have been impacted.
Additionally, FGUA has targeted Citrus Springs lot owners for an assessment of $2,082 for water line extensions. That involves about 6,120 lot owners.
While the proposed fee for Citrus Springs hasn't changed, the plan to retroactively bill those who built homes in the past year has been scratched.
Bigger news is that the $6,571 assessment for Pine Ridge has been completely dropped. Two developers who own significant chunks of land there have agreed to fund the utility lines, significantly reducing the financial burden on FGUA.
After being lambasted by the public and county commission, FGUA officials have vowed to regain public trust.
County commissioners are rightfully steamed about how the proposed fees were sprung on them and the public. Our elected watchdogs have to be especially careful during times of rapid growth — which is what's driving the need to build the network of waterlines. FGUA contends it simply didn't anticipate or budget for the pace of growth the county's experiencing.
Again, there are many factors to be addressed before county commissioners will trust FGUA, but addressing the assessments was the most pressing issue and that's a step in the right direction.
A myriad of sensitive questions about the relationship between Citrus County government and the Florida Governmental Utilities Authority remain, but FGUA customers in Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs can now breathe a bit easier.
In response to a booming housing market, FGUA was moving forth with one-time $6,571 assessments per undeveloped lot in Pine Ridge, as well as for those who built on their lot in the past year. That money was to fund the extension of water lines. About 380 lot owners would have been impacted.
Additionally, FGUA has targeted Citrus Springs lot owners for an assessment of $2,082 for water line extensions. That involves about 6,120 lot owners.
While the proposed fee for Citrus Springs hasn't changed, the plan to retroactively bill those who built homes in the past year has been scratched.
Bigger news is that the $6,571 assessment for Pine Ridge has been completely dropped. Two developers who own significant chunks of land there have agreed to fund the utility lines, significantly reducing the financial burden on FGUA.
After being lambasted by the public and county commission, FGUA officials have vowed to regain public trust.
County commissioners are rightfully steamed about how the proposed fees were sprung on them and the public. Our elected watchdogs have to be especially careful during times of rapid growth — which is what's driving the need to build the network of waterlines. FGUA contends it simply didn't anticipate or budget for the pace of growth the county's experiencing.
Again, there are many factors to be addressed before county commissioners will trust FGUA, but addressing the assessments was the most pressing issue and that's a step in the right direction.
posted by Editor Facts & Myths @ 2:46 PM
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