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Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority Seeks $5 million as User Fees Soar
Summary
Representative Bucks and Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority representatives requested $5 million to repair and upgrade a failing sewer system that serves more than 800 users and has seen monthly fees rise sharply over the past decade.
Representative Bucks and Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority officials asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee to consider $5,000,000 in state assistance to repair and upgrade the Lake Mitchell sewer system after repeated pump failures and escalating user fees.
"Unless additional funding is secured, residents and local businesses, over 800 users in total, will continue to face sharp rate increases," Representative Bucks told the committee. He said user fees rose from $31.73 per month in 2016 to about $174 per month currently and that 9% of users are delinquent on payments.
Bucks said the system, which operated for years under county control, was transferred to the Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority and the authority has since struggled to finance critical repairs. He warned the combination of unpaid users and mounting repair needs puts property owners at risk and could cause a housing stress in the area.
The representative described the lakes and connected waterways as economic assets that support tourism and recreation—citing campgrounds and state parks—and said timely sewer system improvements protect public health and the local economy.
No formal vote was recorded. The presentation asked the committee to review the Lake Mitchell request alongside other water infrastructure priorities when considering appropriations.
