Margate Voters to Decide on $120 Million Water and Wastewater Bond in November

by David Volz August 14, 2024

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Margate Works on $120 Million Bond issue for Water Improvements

Margate’s two water treatment facilities provide service for 17,000 residents.{Google}

Margate voters will soon have an important choice to make. On November 5, the Water and Wastewater Revenue Revitalization Bond Referendum will be part of Margate’s general election.

On August 8, Mayor Tommy Ruzzano held a town hall meeting with the revenue bond as one of the main topics. Marta Reczko, assistant director for utilities, gave a presentation on the bonds and encouraged residents to ask questions about them.

According to Reczko, $120 million in revenue bonds would be divided into three bonds if approved. The city would issue a $60 million bond in 2025 for water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades and water line replacements.

Reczko said a second $30 million bond would be issued in 2027 for water and wastewater projects needed to address Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. A third $30 million bond would be issued in 2031 to pay for anticipated regulatory requirements from the Florida legislature and the completion of previous projects.

This bond referendum is intended to finance necessary projects to upgrade the city’s aging utility systems. According to Reczko, these projects will improve the quality, reliability, and efficiency of the city’s water and wastewater services and ensure that they meet the latest EPA regulations.

The Margate water and wastewater system is large and expensive. The Margate Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies capital needs of about $224.3 million through fiscal year 2033. Of this amount, $104.3 million would be paid for through annual budgets, and $120 million would be borrowed through revenue bonds. According to Reczko, before the city can borrow the money, the city charter requires approval from the residents through a vote.

If Margate voters approve the Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Referendum, the improvements will be paid for by the current water and wastewater rates, according to city spokesperson Maria Fallon, who added that property taxes will not increase to pay for these planned upgrades.

Margate owns and operates two treatment facilities. The first, installed in the 1950s, is 70 years old, and the second, installed in the 1980s, is 40 years old. Margate provides service to 17,000 homes and 1,970 businesses.

According to Reczko, the current demand is 6.5 million gallons of water daily, but the city is permitted to produce 10.1 million gallons daily.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.