Hearing set for water rates

Published 6:17 pm Thursday, May 31, 2018

A public hearing scheduled for June 13 with the Farmville Town Council will discuss proposed raises in rates for water and sewer charges, in addition to its fiscal year 2018-2019 budget.

Gerald Spates

According to a public notice from the town, the charge for water within the town’s corporate limits is proposed to be $11.29 for the first 1,500 gallons used monthly, up 54 cents from the current rate of $10.75. Charges for water usage exceeding 1,501 gallons, up to 10,000 gallons, is proposed to rise to $3.68 per 1,000 gallons, up 18 cents from $3.50.

Charges for water usage exceeding 10,001 gallons will be $5.25 per 1,000 gallons, up 25 cents from the current rate of $5.

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Outside the Town of Farmville corporate limits, according to the public notice, water rates are set to be $16.94 for the first 1,500 gallons used monthly, up 81 cents from $16.13. For water usage that exceeds 1,501 gallons up to 10,000 gallons, the proposed charge is $5.52 per 1, 000 gallons, up 27 cents from the current rate of $5.25.

Charges for water usage over 10,001 gallons up to 500,000 is set to be $7.88 per 1,000 gallons, up 38 cents from $7.50. The proposed charge per 1,000 gallons for water usage exceeding 500,001 gallons will be $7.35, up 35 cents from the current rate of $7.

The hearing is also set to discuss amendments to the town’s sewer charge, proposing a monthly charge increase of $1.37 for each connection into the town sewer system that does not use town water, proposing a charge of $28.62 over its current rate of $27.25.

The proposed charge of $28.62 would apply to each additional connection unit that would be installed, “whether occupied or not,” the notice cited.

Town Manager Gerald Spates said the decision to increase the water and sewer charge took place due to the costs associated with producing the water increasing. Spates said this includes the cost of chemicals and electricity used to produce the water.

“All of our costs have gone up to produce the water,” Spates said.

He said the water and sewer charges have not increased since 2012.

The notice also outlined the proposed 2018-2019 budget, citing a total of approximately $27,871,389.71 allocated for revenue and expenditures.

The general fund is proposed to be approximately $18,211,643.85, with the town’s water fund proposed to be $2,251,209 the sewer fund to be $2,468,460, the transportation fund to be $948,555 and the town’s airport fund to be $2,094,263.11.

“The above budget includes a real estate tax rate of 12 cents per $100 of assessed value, a personal property tax rate (business only) of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value and a 27 cent per pack cigarette tax rate,” the notice cited.