Base must pay rate increase

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A federal judge ruled in favor of Bay County over a water rate dispute with Tyndall Air Force Base. Tyndall refused to pay at higher rates for sewer and water service when the county made the increase. The county said Tyndall owes $850,000 dating to the first rate increase in 2007, but Tyndall said the county functioned as an unregulated utility and based on language in one of the contracts, the base could refuse to pay the higher rate. While the ruling sided with the county, it said Tyndall is obligated to pay the higher rate back to March 2011, when the lawsuit was filed. Tyndall has 30 days to file paperwork if it wants to appeal the ruling. (Sources: News Herald, WMBB-TV, 08/15/13)