Winter Haven Commission to vote again on water rate study
WINTER HAVEN — City staff will ask Winter Haven city commissioners Monday to reconsider a water rate study they unanimously shot down in May.
Commissioners said then that water rate studies only ever recommend higher water rates and they did not want to see them raised.
But Finance Director Cal Bowen said not having a study done would be irresponsible.
"We would be flying by the seat of our pants," Bowen said. "It was unexpected to me that the commission didn't approve the rate study before and I don't know what will happen if it isn't approved again."
Commissioners will vote on a $52,700 contract with Raftelis Financial Consultants to build a plan for charging for water over the next five years. The contract is $6,100 less than the one proposed in May because Bowen has already done some preliminary work, he said.