Tampa City council members appear to be leaning towards a stormwater rate increase for most Tampa homeowners.
"It's an investment in infrastructure," said City Councilman Guido Maniscalco.
Council members discussed the rate increase at their council meeting on Thursday. If the storm water fee is approved, most homeowners would see an increase in November. The average rate would go from $36 to $82.
The fee would gradually increase to $180 by 2021.
City officials pointed to Monday's flooding as a reason why the increase was needed. They said the flooding was just a dry run of what could happen if Tampa's stormwater system isn't expanded.
Residents such as Matthew Roe don't mind paying more as long as it alleviates the flooding problem. His South Tampa home flooded Monday.
"We know there's a budget," Roe waid. "We know there's some money put aside for it. We just want to make sure we're going to be included in that because, unfortunately, our house and the equity in our house has diminished."
A public hearing on the rate increase is scheduled for Aug. 27. That's also when City Council members will vote on the issue.