ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The City of St. Petersburg is looking for ways to fund stormwater improvement projects – and their solution could include raising utility rates.

By the numbers:

According to Mayor Ken Welch, the proposed rate hike would amount to an 8-10% overall increase in residents' utility bills.

The city says St. Pete needs about $614 million in stormwater and wastewater improvements.

Dig deeper:

City officials say raising utility rates would help get projects going more quickly than the previous proposal of raising property taxes, which councilmembers discussed in July.

That's because a property tax hike would have to be approved by voters, and that wouldn't happen before November 2026.

"These projects do take a long time to come to fruition and what we're trying to

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