 |
|
|
|
|
| 12/19/2009 6:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Dolores rates will increase next year
By Shannon Livick
Dolores Star Editor
Dolores residents will see their water and sewer bills go up next year, following a Monday-night decision by town board members to increase rates 3 percent.
Interim Town Manager Ryan Mahoney said the increase was a must, to keep up with the rising costs of labor, chemical supplies and additional testing. The 3 percent increase will cost the average customer about $17 a year.
"It's not a huge amount, but costs for us are escalating," Mahoney said.
Town trustees voted 5 to 1 for the increase, Trustee Ginger Black voted against the increase. Trustee Sandy Lauzon was absent.
"I just can't do it," said Black after her vote.
Black had mentioned that she didn't like having to pay a base rate on a vacant house and didn't like burdening Dolores residents more.
The base rate for water for in town residents up to 4,000 gallons will now be $24.36. The base rate for residential, in-town sewer will be $24.72.
Trustee Werner Kress wasn't too excited about voting for the increase.
"We raised water and sewer last year, why can't we let it go one year?" he asked.
Town attorney Mike Green said steady, small increases were they only way to prevent large cost jumps in the future.
"It prevents you from having to do a 15- or 20-percent raise later to catch up," Green said.
Green said because the water and sewer rates are having difficulty paying for themselves, the increase was the only way to keep up with costs and continue to maintain the system.
"We are not keeping up in the sewer fund," Mayor Val Truelson said.
The increase would give the town about $10,800 of additional revenue, Mahoney said.
The revenue will go to the water and sewer enterprise funds because of escalating costs of doing business, needed maintenance and ongoing improvements
"We have to have the revenue to meet operating costs," Mahoney said.
In addition, trustees voted to increase the cost of renting town parks for more than one day. The cost for renting Joe Rowell Park for more than one day, fore example, went up from $250 to $500.
"It was a straight cost for what we had to do to prepare the parks," Mahoney said.
In addition, town trustees voted to charge town residents $20 to get a dog license for a dog that hasn't been fixed. The cost of getting a license for a fixed dog is still $10.
Trustees also approved the towns $1.7 million budget Monday. Earmarked in the budget is money to build a new maintenance facility across from the sewer plant, Mahoney said. The cost of the new facility will likely be about $618,000, $350,00 of which will come from the state.
Construction is expected to start early this summer.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
|
|
|
