Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Sector Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assumption Parish jury to seek Water Sector Commission approval for three‑year sewer rate plan
Summary
The Central Parish Police Jury voted to present a three‑year sewer‑rate plan (the 12% escalation option after an initial January 2025 increase) to the Water Sector Commission, aiming to reach self‑sustaining operation without general‑fund transfers within three years; jurors pressed staff to seek as‑built drawings and letters of support before the commission deadline.
The Central Parish Police Jury voted Dec. 4 to present a three‑year sewer‑rate plan to the Water Sector Commission that assumes an initial increase already approved for January 2025 and 12% annual increases thereafter, a path staff said would largely eliminate the need for general‑fund transfers by the third year.
South Central Planning staff, introduced to the jury as Ebony Baylor and Pat Gordon, framed the plan as an alternative required to satisfy the Office of Community Development (OCD) sustainability criteria while balancing affordability for residents. They told jurors the parish’s system currently serves about 355 customers and that an agreed 38% increase would move the monthly sewer charge from $24 to $33 in January 2025. Under the chosen scenario, subsequent 12% increases in 2026 and 2027 would raise the monthly charge to roughly $36.96 in 2026 and $41.40 in 2027, with projected revenues reducing general‑fund transfers to near zero by year three.
Jurors probed the assumptions behind customer growth and revenue projections, pressing staff on two elements that materially affect the forecast: (1) a projected addition of roughly 36 paying accounts from meter management work and (2) a potential 100 additional customers tied to the Virginia Street project in 2026. Several jurors voiced skepticism that those connections and payments will materialize immediately and asked staff to verify how many households are already tied into each system and how many eligible households are not paying.
The jury approved the motion to present the 12% path to the Water Sector Commission. Mr. Matherne moved the measure; Mr. Carter seconded, and the motion carried. Jurors also asked staff to include flexible language in the submission that would allow the parish to revisit rates downward if subsequent verification shows more paying households are captured than the study projects.
Staff emphasized the submission is time‑sensitive: they said the Water Sector Commission and OCD have a firm deadline to decide on funding, and the parish must present a plan at the commission meeting. To strengthen the parish’s case, staff said they will circulate draft language for juror review, seek letters of support from the state and federal delegation, and request that a juror or staff member attend the commission meeting to make the presentation.
The vote signals the jury’s preference for a path it says balances OCD’s sustainability requirements and the parish’s desire to limit general‑fund subsidies for sewer service. Jurors also instructed staff to gather as‑built drawings and customer‑connection records so the parish can confirm how many households are connected and paying — data jurors said could materially reduce projected rate pressure.
Next steps: staff will send the parish’s proposed plan and supporting letters to the Water Sector Commission within the required window, pursue as‑built drawings for sewer plants, and circulate draft submission language and letters of support to the jury for signoff.
