Tell the Bay County Commissioners that the retail water/sewage rates must be lowered. Residents in unincorporated areas deserve just and equitable rates.
The county has imposed a 50% increase in water and sewage rates for unincorporated Bay County (outside city limits) since March 2014. These rates will continue to rise every October if you don’t get involved.
Due to mismanagement of the water utilities, Bay County is burdening a tiny percentage of the county's population with a $29 Million debt. The 5200 customers in unincorporated Bay County, also known as the “retail” customers, have been saddled with this $29 Million debt. As a result, these families have seen huge increases in their water/sewage bills. Everyone in Bay County uses the same water, but only 5200 households are being burdened with the infrastructure debt. Infrastructure debts are meant to be shared by the entire county population of 174,000, not just 5200 families. These families are also being penalized by tiered rates, meaning the more water they use, the more they pay per gallon, so large families are being unfairly targeted. Only the unincorporated areas are subject to tiered rates.
If the $29 Million debt was shared by the entire county like other infrastructure debt is, the amount charged to each household would be virtually unnoticeable, but instead, they've chosen to burden 5200 families with water bills that are sometimes higher than their electricity bills and car payments!
Some rate comparisons between unincorporated Bay County and cities:
Bay County: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus paying separately for trash is $172.
Lynn Haven: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus weekly trash pickup is $104.
Panama City Beach: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus paying separately for trash is $84.36.
Panama City: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus twice weekly trash pickup and once weekly yard debris removal is $108.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 7, 2015
April 14, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures to stop this unfair water debt. Take a moment to text this link to three neighbors who are tired of these bills. Call the county commissioners today and tell them to split this debt across the whole county.
Reached 100 supporters
April 12, 2015
April 10, 2015
We need to hit the 100 signature mark before we approach the commissioners with our demands. Post the link to your Facebook page right now to help us gain momentum. Text three neighbors and urge them to add their names to this fight.
118 Comments
I own property in unincorporated Bay County and feel I have the right to sign this as the water and sewage rates for that property are out of control. I do not feel it's my responsibility to pay for a new development in the area.
Cherokee Heights residents get no benefit and were never planned to get any benefit from the North Bay water treatment facility. There is no excuse for charging us for something from which we will receive no benefit.
this should not be a matter for a few to pay that do not even get counted because we are in unincorporated bay county , and we don't even get to vote on commissioners because we are unincorporated bay county
Sadly, the Bay Co. Commissionsers approved buying a water system/and sewer treatment plant, and then the Bay County unincorporated areas are footing the bill. My water bill has doubled and I am not happy about that.The extra I am paying is not in my budget and causing me an issue monthly.
I do not understand why so few families are being burdened with the county's debt. If anything, raise the corporate side not the residential. I don't have the cash flow the businesses have. I have two kids. I would like to save that money for them not a debt I didn't accrue.
The water rates are extremely high and is not compatible with the cost of living in the Panama City area. The rates really needs to be lowered.
Water is a necessity. If it was not for most of the water wells in my area being condemned by the health department, many of which were fine before they decided to put the water lines in, I would go back to it and stop using the County water! Water should not cost more than Electric and other utilities combined. Stop the insanity now! We have to have water.
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Tell the Bay County Commissioners that the retail water/sewage rates must be lowered. Residents in unincorporated areas deserve just and equitable rates.
The county has imposed a 50% increase in water and sewage rates for unincorporated Bay County (outside city limits) since March 2014. These rates will continue to rise every October if you don’t get involved.
Due to mismanagement of the water utilities, Bay County is burdening a tiny percentage of the county's population with a $29 Million debt. The 5200 customers in unincorporated Bay County, also known as the “retail” customers, have been saddled with this $29 Million debt. As a result, these families have seen huge increases in their water/sewage bills. Everyone in Bay County uses the same water, but only 5200 households are being burdened with the infrastructure debt. Infrastructure debts are meant to be shared by the entire county population of 174,000, not just 5200 families. These families are also being penalized by tiered rates, meaning the more water they use, the more they pay per gallon, so large families are being unfairly targeted. Only the unincorporated areas are subject to tiered rates.
If the $29 Million debt was shared by the entire county like other infrastructure debt is, the amount charged to each household would be virtually unnoticeable, but instead, they've chosen to burden 5200 families with water bills that are sometimes higher than their electricity bills and car payments!
Some rate comparisons between unincorporated Bay County and cities:
Bay County: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus paying separately for trash is $172.
Lynn Haven: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus weekly trash pickup is $104.
Panama City Beach: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus paying separately for trash is $84.36.
Panama City: Total water/sewage bill for usage of 7000 gallons plus twice weekly trash pickup and once weekly yard debris removal is $108.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 7, 2015
April 14, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures to stop this unfair water debt. Take a moment to text this link to three neighbors who are tired of these bills. Call the county commissioners today and tell them to split this debt across the whole county.
Reached 100 supporters
April 12, 2015
April 10, 2015
We need to hit the 100 signature mark before we approach the commissioners with our demands. Post the link to your Facebook page right now to help us gain momentum. Text three neighbors and urge them to add their names to this fight.
118 Comments
We are a single income 3 person family. My husband works full time and I homeschool our son. Last month's bill was $128 this months: $239! This will devastate our family budget as we will now be paying more for water that electricity most months.
I own property in unincorporated Bay County and feel I have the right to sign this as the water and sewage rates for that property are out of control. I do not feel it's my responsibility to pay for a new development in the area.
Cherokee Heights residents get no benefit and were never planned to get any benefit from the North Bay water treatment facility. There is no excuse for charging us for something from which we will receive no benefit.
this should not be a matter for a few to pay that do not even get counted because we are in unincorporated bay county , and we don't even get to vote on commissioners because we are unincorporated bay county
Sadly, the Bay Co. Commissionsers approved buying a water system/and sewer treatment plant, and then the Bay County unincorporated areas are footing the bill. My water bill has doubled and I am not happy about that.The extra I am paying is not in my budget and causing me an issue monthly.
I do not understand why so few families are being burdened with the county's debt. If anything, raise the corporate side not the residential. I don't have the cash flow the businesses have. I have two kids. I would like to save that money for them not a debt I didn't accrue.
The water rates are extremely high and is not compatible with the cost of living in the Panama City area. The rates really needs to be lowered.
Water is a necessity. If it was not for most of the water wells in my area being condemned by the health department, many of which were fine before they decided to put the water lines in, I would go back to it and stop using the County water! Water should not cost more than Electric and other utilities combined. Stop the insanity now! We have to have water.
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We are a single income 3 person family. My husband works full time and I homeschool our son. Last month's bill was $128 this months: $239! This will devastate our family budget as we will now be paying more for water that electricity most months.