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Ellenville approves water and sewer rate increases to shore up system funds
Summary
The Village of Ellenville voted to raise water and sewer rates to address shortfalls and fund upcoming system projects; the board kept the base charge for the first 5,000 gallons unchanged to limit impacts on low‑usage households and seniors.
The Village of Ellenville board voted to raise water and sewer rates on a motion the board approved by voice vote.
Village staff told the board the water and sewer funds are currently strained, with roughly $120,000 in delinquent accounts, and that capital needs — including a well refurbishment and system improvement projects — require additional revenue. Staff said the fixed base charge for water (covering the first 5,000 gallons) will remain at $56, but the per‑thousand‑gallon charge above that threshold will increase; heavier users could see increases of roughly 10–15 percent, while many low‑use households, including seniors who typically use less than 5,000 gallons, should see little or no change.
"Up to 5,000 gallons your bill will not change; the base amount will stay the same," said the Village Manager, who presented the finance analysis and stressed efforts to protect vulnerable residents. The manager added that the village is trying to minimize impacts on seniors and other low‑volume users. As an example, staff said a household that previously paid about $120 per quarter could see little difference if usage remains at the base level; heavier users were given an illustrative example of roughly $30 more per $250 in quarterly bills under the new structure.
Why it matters: staff said water and sewer operations are part of the village treasury and must be solvent to maintain service, operate treatment facilities and continue planned capital projects. The board discussed the distributional effects and asked staff to provide more granular customer‑level impacts before the next billing cycle.
The board approved the rate change on a voice vote; no roll‑call tally was provided in the record. Staff also reported they will pursue grant funding for larger projects and will schedule follow‑up briefings on implementation and customer outreach.
The board moved on to other business after the vote; the village indicated the next water bill cycle begins April 1 and that unpaid balances will be rolled onto tax bills with applicable penalties at the end of May.
