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NEFBA: JEA fee hikes could impact housing affordability
Kroger’s robot delivery army Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
The city-owned utility is considering raising the fees 149% by 2023.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
ing an individual customer. And then we’ll earn the business over time.” Despite his friendly competition statements about Publix, McMullen, speaking July 29 McMullen at the official ribboncutting of the grocer’s 375,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Groveland, says Florida is a prime market for the grocer and he sees a bright future in the state. One big reason is name recognition. McMullen said company research found that
The Northeast Florida Builders Association said JEA’s proposal for an increase to almost $9,100 for one-time water and sewer fees on new homes could price some buyers out of the market. The JEA board postponed a vote on the increase Aug. 24 because it lacked a quorum. The change would increase JEA’s capacity and meter fees paid by developers and builders from $3,649 today to $9,098 by April 2023, a 149% increase. Some NEFBA members say builders likely will pass along some of the fee hikes to the buyers in a market where home prices Ward are rising. In a letter to the JEA board Aug. 20, NEFBA President Keith R. Ward said the fee increase could put Jacksonville at a competitive disadvantage with housing markets in neighboring counties and cities. “It is our belief that the proposed increase has risen to a level that will have damaging effects on the ability to deliver affordable housing in the JEA service area,” Ward’s letter says. JEA began meeting with NEFBA leaders in December 2020 when the utility initially proposed a $7,559 increase to the fees, according to the letter. Utility CEO Jay Stowe and his executive team say the increases partially are due to a 15-year gap from the last time JEA evaluated and adjusted the fees. According to JEA, that is cou-
SEE KROGER, PAGE 3
SEE JEA, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
Special to the Daily Record
Kroger’s high-tech, robotic distribution center in Groveland about 30 miles west of Orlando. Workers and robots inside the center prepare grocery orders to be delivered by vans to customers.
The CEO of the grocery chain says its high-tech facility has the company positioned to prosper in Florida with its service set to expand south and beyond.
BY LOUIS LLOVIO OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP
The top executive of one of the largest grocers in the country, The Kroger Co. CEO Rodney McMullen, says he is not looking to steal business from Florida’s own supermarket king, Publix. Kroger’s actions in the state, including recent debuts of grocery delivery in Tampa and Jacksonville, with Miami likely in the next few months, show something else. “We don’t look at it as we’re going to go and take (Publix’s) Florida market share away,” McMullen said. “We look at, here’s what we offer uniquely and we’re going to do an incredible job serv-
HAPPY LABOR DAY The Jacksonville Daily Record will not be published Sept. 6 for the Labor Day holiday. It will resume publication Sept. 7. VOLUME 108, NO. 205 • ONE SECTION