By Roger Jimenez, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
Apopka residents will soon see a 15% increase in their sanitation rates after the city council approved a resolution just moments after tabling proposed water rate increases.
Financial consultant Shawn Ocasio presented the findings of the sanitation utility system to the council during the September 3rd council meeting. Ocasio explained that the sanitation department is currently operating on a low fund balance for the fiscal year of 2025 and high operating costs that need to be addressed.
Related: Apopka tables proposed water rate hikes after residents push back.
According to the study, operating expenses are projected to grow from $7.1 million to $9.7 million by FY2029. The increase is largely driven by higher labor and health insurance costs, fuel, repairs, and tipping fees. In addition, the department has a $6.8 million capital improvement plan scheduled through FY2029.
The approved resolution sets a 15% rate increase for 2026, followed by annual increases of 6.5% through 2029—an overall 34.5% rise. The initial 15% hike is intended to prevent the fund from being depleted before the end of the fiscal year.
An alternative option presented during the meeting is to reduce the service level from twice a week to once a week and eliminate recycling service altogether. This change would keep the 15% raise for 2026 but lower subsequent annual increases from 6.5% to 2%. However, the council expressed its preference to keep the service level the same.
“For everybody who's okay with [service] once a week, there are five people out there that are against it, I can assure you that's not a winning issue,” said Mayor Bryan Nelson.
“Residents like the fact that we pick up trash twice a week because if there’s more than two people in the house, once a week is just not gonna work,” added Commissioner Alexander Smith. “I understand 15% seems like a lot… but I support the sanitation department doing an outstanding job, and so I'm in favor of 15%.”
“If there is anything the residents are happy with, it’s trash being picked up twice a week. Not one neighbor has ever, in 21 years, come up to me and ask why we are picking up twice a week,” said Commissioner Diane Velazquez.
Local resident Ian Kimbrall shared his frustrations over the increase during public comment.
“I understand you say a couple of dollars, but 15.5% here for water, 15.5% for next year’s water, and 15% for trash isn’t a couple of dollars,” Kimbrall said.
“And if we're having this issue now, what are we going to be dealing with in a year and a half? All these developments that you guys just keep passing and approving start coming online, and those people move in, you say, ‘Oh, we can't afford it. We gotta raise the rates again.’… It's not the way to do it. The proper way to do it is to go in, check your budgets, check your spending money, and figure out how you can cut costs to cover your expenses, as opposed to how you can get more money from us to cover your mismanagement.”
Commissioner Alexander Smith acknowledged the residents' frustrations.
“We didn't get where we are overnight, and this administration is not totally responsible for all of it. It just so happened that we were all bragging about being the lowest millage rate of anybody, and everybody was happy. And now that has caught up with us, and we're not happy anymore," he said.
The council voted to pass the resolution 4-1, with Commissioner Nadia Anderson in opposition.
The city council will meet again on September 9th to decide exactly how much extra Apopka residents will have to pay in increased water, wastewater, and sewer utility rates.
