Commission adopts utilities budget; manager says city among lowest-cost providers

The New Smyrna Beach City Commission on Sept. 23 adopted Ordinance 51-26, approving the utilities commission budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2026, and ending Sept. 30, 2027. The action followed a presentation from Ephraim Chavez, general manager and CEO of NSP Utilities, and a motion and second on the dais.

Chavez told the commission the utilities budget follows a combined approach: "we do a bottoms up, preparation from the income statement standpoint, but we also look at it from a top down from the rate study that we're required to do per our governance model every 3 years." He said the city is competitively priced in the region: "we are just overall the 2nd lowest in the state of Florida for utilities from electric standpoint, and we are the 3rd lowest, for water wastewater services within our Central Florida area." The presentation emphasized capital planning and rate-study-driven adjustments to ensure service reliability.

Mayor Cleveland and several commissioners thanked staff for the budget work. The clerk recorded the roll call and the ordinance was adopted as presented. The commission’s action puts the utilities budget into effect on Oct. 1, 2026.