Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bel Air introduces sewer-rate ordinance citing sharp rise in Harford County bulk charge
Summary
The town introduced Ordinance 862-26 to update sewer service rates after a multi-year cumulative increase in Harford County’s bulk sewage charge. Staff said the draft raises rates above a simple 10% CPI adjustment; a public hearing is set for the second June meeting.
Bel Air staff introduced Ordinance 862-26 on May 27, asking the Board of Town Commissioners to update sewer service rates to offset a substantial increase in Harford County’s bulk sewage charges.
Lisa, speaking for town staff, said the draft ordinance updates the chart in Town Code Chapter 397 and that the combined effect of several years of CPI increases results in a total change larger than a single 10% adjustment: “if you do the math ... the math's not going to add to a 10% increase. It's going to add to a lot more than that.” She said the change is recommended so the town can cover rising treatment costs and, if funds remain, place them in the sanitary sewer capital improvement reserve for future projects.
Commissioners asked staff about the apparent 30%–33% cumulative increase discussed in the packet; staff clarified the figure reflects compounded CPI across multiple years and noted the last full figures were updated in 2022 when an 8-inch meter size was added. Staff said the ordinance will be introduced at this meeting, with a public hearing at the board’s second June meeting; if adopted it would take effect 21 days after adoption and be timed for the July 25 sewer billing.
The board took the ordinance as an introduction only; no final vote was taken. The town will hold the public hearing before any adoption vote.
