New City Water Rates effective July 9, 2010

This is in answer to Carrie and any other Polk City residents who have not seen an increase in their water bill last month, and other residents who are wondering why their water bills have seen such a dramatic increase since last month.  This will clarify the new rate schedule for residents who have a 3/4" water meter for their homes.  These rates are only for residents living within the city limits.  The water rates for outside city limits is 25% higher.  These numbers do not include sewer rates.

Effective July 9, 2010 Polk City has increased the residential base rate to $17.09/month from $11.40.
Rates are as follows:
1 - 6000 gallons will cost $2.62 per 1000 gallons, up from $1.74 per l000 gallons.
6001 - 12,000 gallons will cost $5.23 per l000 gallons, up from $3.49 per l000 gallons.
12,001 - 18,000 gallons cost $9.15 per l000 gallons, up from $6.10 per l000 gallons.
18,000 gallons and above cost  $14.63 per l000 gallons, up from $9.75 per l000 gallons.

For example:  if you were billed for 20,000 gallons usages:
                                                  NEW rate         OLD rate
    the first 6000 gallons will cost  $15.72               $10.44
    the 2nd 6000 gallons will cost  $31.38               $20.94
    the 3rd  6000 gallons will cost  $54.90              $36.60
    the last 2000 gallons will cost   $29.26              $19.50
    the new base rate                     $17.09              $11.40
SUBTOTAL..............................$148.35             $98.88
ANNUAL SUBTOTAL..........$1,780.20         $1,186.56

Add the storm water fee.............. $ 1.50               $ 1.50
Add the Garbage pick fee............ $20.00              $20.00
TOTALS...................................$169.85            $120.38
ANNUAL TOTALS...............$2,038.20        $1,444.56
These numbers do not include the Polk City Utility Tax
of 10% of the base + usage fees, so there will be an additional $14.83 in taxes added to the bill.
The garbage rate for Polk City at $20 per month ends up totaling $240 per year.

For your comparison, these are LAKELAND ELECTRIC'S outside city limits water rates:
Base Rate for 3/4 inch residential water meter is $8.76
1 - 7000 gallons cost $2.15 per 1000 gallons
8,000 - 12,000 gallons cost $2.65 per 1000 gallons
13,000 - 19,000 gallons cost $3.29 per 1000 gallons
over 19,000 gallons cost $4.31 per 1000 gallons

In comparison the same 20,000 gallons used will cost:
First 7000 gallons @ $2.15/1000 gallons    $15.05
next 5000 gallons @ $2.65/1000 gallons     $13.25
next 6000 gallons @ $3.29/1000 gallons     $19.74
last 2000 gallons @ $4.31/1000 gallons       $ 8.62
Base Rate Cost                                           $ 8.76

SUBTOTAL                                            $65.42
ANNUAL SUBTOTAL                         $785.04

In unincorporated Polk County, garbage pickup fee will be only $154.00 per year and is included in your annual Real Estate Tax Bill from the county, not on the monthly water bill.

We hope this will clarify any questions you may have regarding the way your city figures out your water bill. 
For the couple of people who have written in saying they have not seen an increase in their water bills, you might have been overlooked or your increase is still coming, since the city employees have to manually enter the increase.  This recent increase is in addition to a previous increase only a few months prior to the July 6th increase.  By the way, the city adds an addition 7.23% City Tax to your TECO and Lakeland Electric power bill.