1. A capacity fee, which is the customer's share of costs for wastewater treatment plants and associated major system facilities.
   
   All new customers that connect to the county's central sewer system pay this fee. The current capacity fee is $2,031 per single-family residential home. Customers may pay the fee up-front or finance this amount through the county for up to 20 years at an annual interest rate of 3%.² If the entire amount is financed for 20 years, the fee will be about $11 per month. There will be a small, one-time fee paid to the Clerk of Court related to financing the capacity fee.
   
   
2. Sewer Deferred Standby Fee
   
   $8.28 per month from December 2003 until date of application for service. Upon request this fee can be financed in full or in part by Sarasota County along with the Sewer Capacity Fee shown above.
   

    

3. MSBU Annual Assessment is a non-ad valorem assessment, which is based on a portion of the costs the County incurs during the construction of the collection system.
   
   This assessment is approximately $165 per year for 20 years per single-family residential home. This assessment starts with the year that central sewer service is made available to the property. It will automatically appear on the property tax bill each year. This assessment may be paid up front for $2,345 ⁴. Should you wish to pay the assessment in full no refunds will be allowed should the fee be reduced at a later date. The MSBU assessment stays with the property should the property be sold and does not have to be paid in full anytime during the term. The term/years will be determined by the Sarasota County Commission at a Public Hearing but is generally done on a 20 to 25 year assessment.
   
   
4. The on-lot expense for abandoning the customer's septic system and connecting the home to the central sewer system.
   
   The property owner pays this cost directly to the plumber he or she hires to perform the work. This cost will vary depending on several factors, such as, how many septic tanks are located on the property, the location of the service lateral in relation to the new sewer, and the amount of restoration work that has to be done after the pipe is installed. Property owners are encouraged to seek estimates from licensed plumbers.
   
   
5. A bill surcharge billed on the monthly bill at $19 per month for a single family home.
   
   This fee is unique to the central sewer project and is a portion of the construction cost for sewer lines within your neighborhood. This fee is subject to change depending on the final construction costs and amount of grants received. The charge will start one year after notification that sewer service is available even if not connected. The $19 is the maximum amount that will be billed for up to 25 years. The costs can be reduced by financial incentives such as grants or other options that reduce the final cost of construction. This fee will automatically be billed on the monthly sewer bill and begins billing one year after notification. The term/years this fee will be billed has not yet been determined as the final construction cost is not known but is anticipated to be 20 to 25 years.
   
   
6. A monthly wastewater service bill based on water use.
   
   The average water use of a single-family home is 3,000 to 5,000 gallons per month, which translates to a wastewater service charge of $33 to $55 per month. For customers using wells for drinking water, the flat fee for wastewater service is approximately $44 per month ³.

Expenses are based on 2007 rates. See 2007 Rates for more information.