Water, sewer rates hiked

As expected, the Waynesboro City Council voted Monday to raise water, sewer and garbage rates.

In a unanimous, 5-0 vote, the council raised water rates from $2.61 to $3.53 per 1,000 gallons used and sewer rates from $4.68 to $5.32 per 1,000 gallons used. Trash pickup rates will go up by $2 to $14.50 monthly. The new rates will apply to all accounts billed after Jan. 1.

Service charges on water bills would vary by the type of meters people have, ranging from $6 for a 5/8-inch meter to $102 for a 10-inch meter, while the monthly flat charge for sewer bills would also go up, from $5.25 to $7.95.

While water rates remained mostly steady from 2001 through 2006, they have gone up by 98 cents per 1,000 gallons in the last two years. Sewer rates have increased 88 cents in the past two years.

The council also approved $20 fees for disconnecting and reconnecting water service.

For a family of four, the total bi-monthly water and sewer bill would increase 33.2 percent, from $94.69 to $119.25 based on 11,000 gallons used in a two-month span, but the total bill would fluctuate based on usage.

The water and sewer rate increases are the third in a five-part series of increases designed to help pay for the city’s upgrades to its aging water and sewer system to meet state mandates for better water purification. Because the water, sewer and refuse service come from their own enterprise funds, they each must pay for themselves, though the refuse fund operated at a $99,668 shortfall for fiscal year 2008.

City Manager Mike Hamp said in a Dec. 20 memo to the council that the refuse fund has “struggled more than the water and sewer funds in recent years to meet budget projections” in part due to variances in diesel prices and other energy costs, potential equipment breakdowns and private sector competition.

Hamp, in the memo, reiterated his opposition to changing the trash pickup rate, which the city had proposed to be $15. He said it would reduce the amount of money the city would receive by $37,122 yearly – from $185,610 to $148,488.

But he said that since the council wanted to reduce the trash pickup rate, he would eliminate the fund transfer to the water fund for customer service, saving about $23,000 yearly, and delay buying a new half-ton pickup truck, saving the city $16,270 – for now. He also said he would save an additional $20,000 by delaying the purchase of new trash cans and save another $3,700 by deferring uniform shirt purchases. Hamp said the city likely has cans in inventory if anyone needs a replacement.

In the memo, Hamp wrote that, as the city prepares its fiscal year 2010 budget, Public Works Director Brian McReynolds is going to look at energy savings, adjusting collection routes and implementing, essentially, a four-day work week for garbage collection. During Monday’s meeting, Hamp said the city would also look to reduce costs through the current hiring freeze and through attrition.

Vice Mayor Frank Lucente offered praise to city officials for finding more cuts to the refuse fund, and called for residents to cut back on their water usage.

Councilwoman Lorie Smith, who had said at last week’s work session she would oppose changes in the refuse rates, said Monday she could support it, with reservations, due to cost savings the city has found. She expressed concerns, however, with the health of the enterprise funds.

“This is hinging on reduction of services for our citizens,” Smith said.