Lake Worth Beach approves 4% water and sub-regional sewer rate rises

Lake Worth Beach approves 4% water and sub-regional sewer rate risesLake Worth Beach Utilities will raise water-system and sub-regional sewer rates by 4% in fiscal 2026-27, while local sewer rates will rise 5%. The City Commission approved all three rate resolutions on 6 October, alongside calls for clearer customer billing information and public explanation of the increases.

Resolution 48-2026 sets a 4% water-system rate increase for fiscal 2026-27.

Resolution 46-2026 establishes a 5% increase for the local sewer system.

Resolution 47-2026 approves a 4% sub-regional sewer rate increase, set through the sub-regional system's board-approved budget.

The sub-regional system is funded by collections from Lake Worth Beach and other participating entities, with annual true-ups returning unspent money or collecting additional sums where expenditure exceeds collections.

A commissioner asked staff to consider giving customers a more detailed breakdown of sewer charges on utility bills.

Lake Worth Beach City Commission has approved water and sewer rate increases for fiscal 2026-27, adopting a 4% rise in water-system charges, a 5% increase in local sewer charges and a 4% rise for the city’s sub-regional sewer system. The measures were approved as Resolutions 46-2026, 47-2026 and 48-2026 at the commission’s 6 October meeting. The water resolution was explicitly presented as a proposed 4% increase for the fiscal year and passed unanimously. The local and sub-regional sewer resolutions were also approved following motions, seconds and affirmative votes. During consideration of the local sewer resolution, one commissioner raised a customer suggestion that sewer charges should be itemised more clearly on bills. Water bills contain several line items, including base-type and customer charges as well as volumetric water use, the commissioner said, while sewer appears as a single total. The commissioner said sewer charges are based on water use but may also combine a base charge and a water-use-related component. A utility representative said staff would take note of the suggestion and review it. The same commissioner said the city should be careful to communicate percentage increases to customers. While residents were unhappy about rising rates, the commissioner said the increases were based on actual costs of providing water and sewer service. For the sub-regional system, Lake Worth Beach Utilities representative Vaughn Baker said rates are determined by the system’s board after it approves the budget. The system is funded by collections from Lake Worth Beach and the other participating entities, and is intended to match the approved budget exactly. Baker said a true-up is completed at year-end. If all collected funds are not spent, money is returned to each partner; if expenditure is higher than collections, additional money is collected. The meeting record did not provide the resulting customer bill amounts or further detail on the cost drivers behind the approved increases.