Worthington Town Council tables $5 across-the-board sewer rate increase

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
By Anna Rochelle, Staff Writer

Action on a proposed increase of the sewer rates in Worthington was tabled on a motion made by council member Malcolm Stahl during the Worthington Town Council's Utility Department meeting on Tuesday evening.

Council President Hal Harp proposed an across-the-board increase of $5 on the basic residential rate of $35 per month.

The current sewer rate has been in effect for 11 years with no increases but Harp said the operating costs have gone up, the number of users has gone down and last year the town's sewage utility department paid out more than it took in.

The figures cited for 2008 were a total income of $346,515.47 with $362,408.13 worth of expenses.

"Breaking even is not good enough, we need a surplus," said Harp, adding that the town needed to have some funds available in order to meet "match" requirements when applying for grants to update the sewage and storm sewer system.

Stahl expressed concern that an across-the-board increase didn't seem right.

"We've got people with four to six kids that pay $35 per month and older, single women that pay the same," said Stahl.

Harp said there was no way to regulate that.

Council member Debbie Dyer said she did not want to raise the rates, but there might not be much choice.

Council member Gregg Roudebush said he felt they should go ahead and raise the residential rate by $5, but that commercial rates should also be raised.

Stahl suggested the council take a closer look at the rates being charged to businesses and larger commercial users to make sure everyone was paying their fair share. Unless that was done,Stahl said he wouldn't vote for an increase on residential users.

Harp did not agree with Stahl's request.

Stahl made a motion to table the matter until next month and the motion passed.

The matter is expected to be on the Council's agenda again during their May meeting.

Although it was announced that the discussion regarding the rate increase would take place during the regular town council meeting, the discussion actually took place one-half hour earlier during the utility meeting which is always conducted prior to the council meeting.

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Has every effort been made to collect delinquent sewer bills? If those were collected there might not be a need for an across the board increase. Don't make everyone pay for the deadbeats who won't pay their fair share.

-- Posted by Frankly Speaking on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 6:31 AM

Why can't the town of Worthington work with Eastern Hts, the water company, and go by the usage of water per household. Will the water company help

-- Posted by fanofbloomfield on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 7:59 AM

They need to only spend the sewer money for sewer related things. They pay police salaries from the sewer fund and many other things. It is treated as a bottomless source of funds just because the money come in every month. More people should be at the monthly meetings.

-- Posted by Jonboy on Thu, Apr 16, 2009, at 7:45 AM