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Springettsbury proposes sewer-rate increases to cover multi-year deficits; board asks who will be affected
Summary
Township staff proposed raising residential and commercial flat sewer rates and the consumption charge to close projected multi-year sewer deficits; board members asked which users would bear most of the increase and requested comparative analysis.
Jamie Reed told the Board of Supervisors that the sewer fund faces projected deficits through 2030 if rates remain unchanged and presented a package of increases intended to stabilize operations and support capital.
Reed proposed raising the residential flat rate from $80 to $85 per quarter and the commercial flat rate from $85 to $90 per quarter. He also proposed increasing the consumption charge from $3 to $4 per 1,000 gallons and raising the consumption threshold (EDUs) from 22,700 to 31,900. Reed said the residential change would generate about $138,820 in additional revenue and the commercial change about $69,340; he said a remaining component from the consumption-rate changes would bring the total projected additional sewer revenue to about $1,555,020 for 2026, with roughly $1,300,000 designated for operations and about $255,000 for capital.
"We did determine that we would be at a deficit if we do not adjust our current sewer rates," Reed said.
During follow-up questions, an unidentified board member asked who pays the consumption surcharge and who would be most affected. Staff explained that residential customers pay the residential flat rate, commercial/industrial customers pay the commercial flat rate, and customers with usage above the EDU threshold pay the consumption charge. Staff cited large institutions and industrial users (the township’s prison was mentioned) as among the highest water users likely to be affected; staff also noted some businesses have deduct meters because water is incorporated into product and therefore may not be charged the same way.
Board members requested further analysis showing how many accounts would be affected, a comparison of commercial rates to peer municipalities (staff noted limited countywide consumption-rate examples and agreed to provide additional comparative data), and more detailed customer-impact information before the board considers final action.
Next steps: staff will provide a memo with customer-impact details and comparative commercial-rate information to inform any future board vote on sewer rates.
