New utility rates not set for Fillmore

Sunday, October 26, 2014

FILLMORE -- Keenly aware that they will soon have to take the unpopular step of raising water and sewer rates, Fillmore Town Council members are still deliberating on the exact figures before making a final decision.

The board met in special session on Thursday afternoon to gather more information from Town Attorney Mary Russell and Dan Devault of the Rural Community Assistance Program, who has been conducting a rate study for the town.

Devault had some specific recommendations for the board on Thursday -- a 26.1-percent increase on water and a 13.8-percent increase on sewer for 2015 -- but an ordinance still needs to be drafted with these rates and other possible increases.

One matter needing addressed is an additional rate increase for sewer in 2016, as handed down from Greencastle Municipal Utilities.

The town purchases its water and sewer service from the larger city, and the new rates are in part a reaction to higher rates from Greencastle.

Greencastle's water rate will increase 47 percent as of Nov. 1, while the sewer rate will increase by 11 percent.

"This is less than what they're raising people's rates in Greencastle," Devault said of the overall recommended increase.

However, Greencastle has a second phase of its sewer increase, which will raise the rate an additional 14.4 percent in 2016. The board has asked Devault to recommend a second-year increase to keep pace with the Greencastle rates.

Also requested were small increases for the years following the large rate changes. These annual incremental increases are meant to keep up with inflation, and would not be applied to the actual purchase of water or sewer service, but to funds such as parts and maintenance.

Devault was asked to have the recommendations to Russell in time for the attorney to prepare water and sewer rate ordinances for the Thursday,

Nov. 6 town council meeting.

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