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Sanitary commissioners move churches into commercial rate class after protests over steep bills
Summary
After more than a dozen public commenters — mostly church leaders — urged relief from what they called unexpectedly large sanitation bills, the Board of Sanitary Commissioners voted to change user classification language so churches and charities will be billed as commercial users while the board considers a separate category.
The Board of Sanitary Commissioners on Jan. 22 approved revised user-classification language that moves churches and charitable institutions into the district—s commercial rate class after numerous public comments describing large, unexpected increases in sanitary bills.
The vote follows more than 30 minutes of public comment from local ministers, church treasurers and other community members who said recent billing changes sharply raised monthly wastewater charges for small congregations. "We received a bill for our sanitation increase that happened this month going from $23.28 a month to $203.88," said James Heimlich, who identified himself as speaking for Riverside Avenue Baptist Church. Heimlich said the change would amount to "a yearly increase $2,164.44" for his congregation and urged the board to rescind or reduce the charge.
Why it matters: Board members said the change stems from a multi-year rate study and a federal- and state-driven obligation to reduce combined-sewer…
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