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Thursday, October 23, 2008, 10:37 AM
County water users could see rate hike By Eddie Fitzgerald | Daily Times Staff Writer Residents who are hooked on to the county's water system in the southeast and southwest water districts could soon see a change in their water rates. The county's Water and Sewer Committee has unanimously approved an increase in water rate fees and tap fees. County Manager Ellis Williford said the committee has recommended that tap fees for new customers increase from $500 to $850 and that the minimum, basic water bill will increase from $20.50 to $23.50 per month. The water rates could also be put on a tiered rate, Williford said. Under the proposal approved by the committee, the first 3,000 gallons of water would still cost $2.75. The second 3,000 gallons would cost $4, the third 3,000 gallons would cost $5 and anything over 9,000 gallons would be $6. "The costs have gone up," Williford said, explaining why the committee recommended the changes. "There has to be more revenue to pay for the increase in supplying water, plus the debt service will come on line soon for the two new (waterline extensions) projects we are doing in the southeast and southwest." Growth in the two water districts is also causing the county to buy additional water from the city, which is more costly than Stantonsburg or Black Creek water that is used in the districts, Williford said. The Southeast Water District had a net profit of $58,000 last fiscal year, but the Southwest Water District went into the red by $28,000, Williford said. "We have more customers in the Southwest and have to buy more water from the city of Wilson," he said. "But that is changing with the additional customers," he said. "We will have to buy more water from Wilson for the southeast at a higher rate." The county is still getting a fair response from people interested in connecting to the county water system as waterlines are being constructed, Williford said. "We still have some areas with drought conditions are causing people -- rather than dig new wells -- to hook onto the system," he said. The Water and Sewer Committee, which consists committee chair Sid Boyette and commissioners Josephine Edwards and Tim Williford, has been considering water rate increases for several months. There has only been one water rate increase since the districts were started, Williford said. "Fixed costs continue to rise every year," he said. The recommendation by the committee will have to go before commissioners in November for final approval. eddie@wilsontimes.com | 265-7820
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James Davis said...I thought Washington D.C. and Raleigh had all the the crooks. Wilson seems to have a disproportionate number of its own. Friday, October 24, 2008 at 9:06 AM |
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