Johnston County holds public hearing on proposed water and sewer development fees; hog farmer urges agricultural relief

Johnston County, N.C. — The Johnston County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing July 21 on proposed revisions to the county's water and sewer system development fees and bulk-capacity charges, hearing a detailed presentation from Utilities Director Chandra Farmer and public comment from a local hog farmer who urged an agricultural exception to the fees.

The utilities department presented an updated analysis prepared by Willdan Financial Services, using a 20-year capital improvements plan and the combined-cost method authorized by state law. Farmer told the board the analysis calculates the maximum fee the county may charge under the statute and proposed stepping rates toward that maximum over the next two fiscal years.

Why it matters: system development fees are one-time charges intended to recover capital costs for system capacity so that growth pays for growth. Changes would affect developers, builders and large users and could shift near-term costs for new residential lots, nonresidential meters and bulk customers such as towns and private utilities.

Farmer summarized the methodology and numbers the consultants produced. The analysis treats recoverable costs as existing and planned capacity-building projects (treatment plants, major transmission lines, elevated tanks, pump stations), applies a debt-service credit so new customers do not pay debt twice, and divides the net capital cost by available system capacity to produce a unit cost per gallon. Farmer said the analysis used the county's 20-year CIP and noted the county must update the analysis at least every five years.

Key figures from the July 21 presentation (figures cited by staff): - Combined water cost per gallon (value used…