Proposed fee gets cool reception (Citrus Springs)
Proposed fee gets cool reception By Terry Witt
Utility: Money needed to pay for growth Officials of a government utility floated a plan Thursday to levy a $2,330 water line extension assessment in a portion of Citrus Springs, but a regulatory board gave it a lukewarm reception.Florida Governmental Utility Authority officials asked for permission to levy the special property assessment on about 5,700 vacant lots in what they described as the highest growth area in Citrus Springs.
Under the FGUA plan, a property owner who paid the fee in advance would be entitled to a reduced fee of $1,905.
FGUA also asked the Citrus County Water and Wastewater Authority for permission to impose a $17 water line maintenance assessment fee in Citrus Springs and a $37 line maintenance fee in neighboring Pine Ridge.
WWA made no decision, but suggested alternatives to a water line extension assessment.The two-day hearing was due to be continued on Monday at 1 p.m., when public comment will be heard. The hearing will take place Room 166 of the Lecanto Government Center.
Representatives of the government-owned utility said high growth in Citrus Springs is forcing them to abandon the “build as you go” method and switch to a more predictable revenue source they can borrow against. They said property assessments are the best method to build line extensions.
Citrus Springs is a planned community of about 34,000 lots in northern Citrus County. FGUA has proposed a six-phase plan to provide water lines to the entire community, much of which is undeveloped. WWA is considering the first phase of the plan.
However, WWA member Robert Hnat said he thought the assessment was too high considering the savings FGUA would realize by concentrating most of its water line extension work in a single area of the community — the first phase. He suggested the utility lower the assessment.Utility Regulatory Director Robert Knight, who advises WWA, said he would look more favorably on an assessment district about half the size of the one FGUA has proposed. He said the current FGUA plan involves building water lines too far in advance of when they might be used.
Board member Ronald F. Broadbent suggested abandoning the special assessment plan completely and instead focusing on one of the main problems facing FGUA when it builds big water line extensions.
FGUA officials often have complained that the Topeka developer’s agreement in Citrus Springs requires the utility to extend water lines to any property owner who lives within 2,500 feet of an existing line. But if only one customer requests service, the new water line sometimes passes by 19 or 20 vacant lots to reach the new customer. The other vacant lot owners are not charged because they are not requesting service.
Broadbent wondered if FGUA couldn’t solve the problem by charging all the lot owners who benefit from such a long water line extension. Attorney Brian Armstrong, who represented FGUA, said WWA could amend the Topeka agreement to raise the line extension fee and make it apply to the vacant lot owners Broadbent identified.
Utility: Money needed to pay for growth Officials of a government utility floated a plan Thursday to levy a $2,330 water line extension assessment in a portion of Citrus Springs, but a regulatory board gave it a lukewarm reception.Florida Governmental Utility Authority officials asked for permission to levy the special property assessment on about 5,700 vacant lots in what they described as the highest growth area in Citrus Springs.
Under the FGUA plan, a property owner who paid the fee in advance would be entitled to a reduced fee of $1,905.
FGUA also asked the Citrus County Water and Wastewater Authority for permission to impose a $17 water line maintenance assessment fee in Citrus Springs and a $37 line maintenance fee in neighboring Pine Ridge.
WWA made no decision, but suggested alternatives to a water line extension assessment.The two-day hearing was due to be continued on Monday at 1 p.m., when public comment will be heard. The hearing will take place Room 166 of the Lecanto Government Center.
Representatives of the government-owned utility said high growth in Citrus Springs is forcing them to abandon the “build as you go” method and switch to a more predictable revenue source they can borrow against. They said property assessments are the best method to build line extensions.
Citrus Springs is a planned community of about 34,000 lots in northern Citrus County. FGUA has proposed a six-phase plan to provide water lines to the entire community, much of which is undeveloped. WWA is considering the first phase of the plan.
However, WWA member Robert Hnat said he thought the assessment was too high considering the savings FGUA would realize by concentrating most of its water line extension work in a single area of the community — the first phase. He suggested the utility lower the assessment.Utility Regulatory Director Robert Knight, who advises WWA, said he would look more favorably on an assessment district about half the size of the one FGUA has proposed. He said the current FGUA plan involves building water lines too far in advance of when they might be used.
Board member Ronald F. Broadbent suggested abandoning the special assessment plan completely and instead focusing on one of the main problems facing FGUA when it builds big water line extensions.
FGUA officials often have complained that the Topeka developer’s agreement in Citrus Springs requires the utility to extend water lines to any property owner who lives within 2,500 feet of an existing line. But if only one customer requests service, the new water line sometimes passes by 19 or 20 vacant lots to reach the new customer. The other vacant lot owners are not charged because they are not requesting service.
Broadbent wondered if FGUA couldn’t solve the problem by charging all the lot owners who benefit from such a long water line extension. Attorney Brian Armstrong, who represented FGUA, said WWA could amend the Topeka agreement to raise the line extension fee and make it apply to the vacant lot owners Broadbent identified.
posted by Editor Facts & Myths @ 3:14 PM
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