PLANT CITY, Fla. — Polk County Utilities customers will have to pay more money soon.

Starting on Oct. 1, rates for water and sewer service will go up by 6% — and they will go up 6% again every year through 2028.

What You Need To Know

  •   Polk County Utilities rates are increasing by 6% each year for the next five years

  •   One Polk County resident says she's concerned about the increase and what it will mean for her finances

  •   The first rate increase will take effect on Oct. 1

For Nancy Espinoza, who is the lead sales person at I-4 Power Equipment in Plant City, says in the seven years she's worked there, she's seen prices increase in almost every sector.

And Espinoza, who works in Plant City but lives in Polk County, said it's not just at her job where she’s seeing the impact — it’s in her own personal utility bill.

Beginning Oct. 1, she, along with every other Polk County Utilities customer, will have to pay more on their utility bills.

Espinoza said it's an increase that will likely change the way she lives. 

“I’ve had to actually do other stuff on the side, that’s just to make ends meet," she said. "I may have to pick up something else as well.”

Polk County Utilities Director Tamara Richardson said the decision to increase rates was made due to an over-pumping of the Florida aquifer for drinking water.

Because of that, they’ve come up with an alternative source for the county's future supply of water, but she said that also means they have to pay more for that supply.

"The project has been under development for some time now, but the bills for this project are going to be coming due for the next five years," Richardson said. "In addition to that, we’re expanding our northeast wastewater treatment facility, which is also a very expensive project.”

Richardson said she understands the impact the increase will have on residents.

To help with the extra costs, she said the Polk County Health and Human Services Department offers programs to help families who qualify for assistance.

Espinoza said that will be a resource she turns to.

“There’s a lot of people that can afford it, and there’s a lot of people that can’t afford it," she said. "And those that have been able to afford it are gradually not being able to.”

As the increase takes effect, Espinoza said she’ll have to budget a little tighter to continue living in the community she grew up in.