Amherst County residents will see a slight increase in their sewer and water rates beginning in January.
Supervisors approved the rate increases following a public hearing on the issue at their board meeting Tuesday night.
Under the new rates, customers will see their monthly water and sewer bills increase by about $1.10 and $1.30 respectively, Amherst’s Public Utilities Director Dan French reported at the meeting.
French said that the estimated increases are less than what was originally advertised and based on the average customer’s use per day, which is approximately 120 gallons.
The higher costs are intended to pay for the technological upgrade the water treatment plant must receive in the next several years, he said.
The upgrade will keep Amherst in compliance with federal water treatment regulations in the future.
“It is necessary for us to make the technology changes to meet the new federal regulations,” French said.
Board members unanimously approved the Amherst County Service Authority’s request to increase the current rates, calling it an unpopular but essential move.
“This is not a popular decision for anybody,” Supervisor Chris Adams said. “Hopefully, we can re-evaluate this in the future.”
“We’re not asking for any more than we absolutely have to have,” French added.
Three residents spoke out against the rate increases, all saying that it was difficult to shoulder extra costs on the heels of an economic downturn.
“$2.50 doesn’t sound like very much,” Amherst resident Calvin Carlson said. “But all of us have to tighten up (our budgets) now.”
Madison Heights resident Janice Camden agreed, saying that it was a bad time to raise rates.
“Everyone’s cutting their prices, not raising them,” she said.
Also at the hearing, citizens expressed concern about county employees receiving possible salary increases despite the increased rates.
Supervisor Adams responded, saying that that no county employees would be receiving salary increases in the upcoming year.
In other business:
Board Chairman Leon Parrish and Supervisor Vernon Wood were recognized for their longtime service on the board at Tuesday’s meeting.
Wood will retire at the end of this year after serving three terms on the board. He was first elected in 1997.
Parrish has held the District 5 Seat on the board since 1993 for a total of four terms. Parrish was narrowly defeated by Madison Heights resident Frank Campbell in this year’s election.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement