2009.08.31
Fairlawn sewer rates scheduled to increase
Letters are going out today to Fairlawn residents detailing a proposed sewer rate increase. The letters will be attached to sewer bills, which will come in an envelope instead of thier usual postcard form.
For residential customers, rates will increase from a flat rate of $13 per month to $23 per month. For commercial customers, rates will increase from $13 per month plus $3.27 per 1,000 gallons for usage over 5,000 gallons per month to $21.00 per month plus $4 per thousand gallons.
The rates are anticipated to increase Jan.1, said Ronald Coake, chairman of the Pulaski County Sewerage Authority. A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17.
Sewage rates have not been raised since 1987, according to the letter.
"The increased rate is comparable to that [1987] rate in today's money," Coake said.
This year's budget is approximately $300,000, and the projected income is $212,000. Income has dropped over the past few years, and the authority's budget has been subsidized from the authority's surplus funds, Coake said.
The Pulaski County Sewerage Authority has approximately 825 customers in Fairlawn, and only serves the Fairlawn area, not including the New River community or Viscoe Road area, Coake said. The Sewerage Authority was established in 1966 to serve only Fairlawn, and the Pulaski County Public Service Authority was established later to serve the rest of the county, Coake said. The increased rates will not affect Public Service Authority customers, Coake said.
Here's the full text of the letter:
To: Customers of the Pulaski County Sewerage Authority
From: Board of Directors of Pulaski County Sewerage Authority
The Board of Directors of Pulaski County Sewerage Authority has reviewed the financial condition of the Authority and has determined an increase in rates will be needed to operate the sewerage system. There will be an advertisement in the Southwest Times on September 6 & 13, 2009 giving notification of a public hearing to be held on November 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Room in the new Riverlawn Elementary School.
The Authority has been fortunate in not having to raise rates since 1987 and the Authority has recommended this action to remain in good financial condition.
The advertisement will recommend a change in rates as follows; 1) for residential customers from a flat rate of $13.00 per month to $23.00 per month. 2) A change in the rates for commercial customers from $13.00 per month plus $3.27 per 1,000 gallons for usage over 5,000 gallons per month to $21.00 per month plus $4.00 per thousand gallon or portion thereof. 3) Non-user fee will be changed from $8.00 to $10.00 per month. The non user fee will apply to developed property with structures. It will not apply to vacant property. Non-user is defined as structures located within 300 feet of a public sewer and not connected to the public sewer line. 4) Penalty for late payment is 10% of the amount billed for commercial accounts and $2.00 for residential accounts. This penalty is applied each month and is cumulative. If a user is making payments to clear a delinquent account the penalty may be waived by the Authority for a period not to exceed 3 months. A returned check fee of $15.00 will be added to the fee schedule. Connection fees will change and will be included in the public notice.
The current budget for the Authority is approximately $300,000 annually and the revenue has dropped to approximately $212,000 annually. During the past several years the budget has been balanced by using surplus funds the Authority had available. There were several large users that have been lost, particularly the St Albans facility that was as large user of the system and as a result loss of revenue.
The Authority is in good financial condition and this recommendation is made with the goal of keeping your sewerage collection and treatment system operating properly.
If you have any questions or need additional information please do not hesitate to contact Ronnie Coake, Chairman at 540-980-7710 or e-mail rcoake@pulaskicounty.org.
This information is being provided to keep you up to date on the plans for the Authority and to give more information and notification than will be available in the public notice.
If you have received this notice and are not connected to the Pulaski County Sewerage Authority sewer system and are not a non-user of this system please disregard this notice. Please note that this notice only applies to Pulaski County Sewerage Authority Customers in the community of Fairlawn for sewer fees and does not apply to the customers of the Pulaski County Public Service Authority for water or sewer fees.
--Amy Matzke-Fawcett
