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Pine Mountain work session recommends higher water and sewer rates, ordinance slated for May and June
Summary
A consultant presented revised utility-rate scenarios and council members recommended raising water and sewer minimums and per-1,000-gallon charges; an ordinance amendment will be considered at May and June meetings with rates proposed to take effect July 1, 2026.
A consultant presented revised utility-rate scenarios on March 20 and Pine Mountain council members recommended increases to water and sewer charges to fund more than $2 million in town projects.
Joe Walter of Precision Planning, Inc. provided the revised study and rate scenarios to the mayor and council. Council member Stokely Pound said the town needs additional revenue for infrastructure, noting the town has “over $2 million worth of projects that need to be addressed.” Town Auditor Kim Kimmel attended the session to answer questions about auditing and depreciation.
The council discussed several rate-structure options and recommended the following schedule of minimum bills and per-1,000-gallon charges: water and sewer inside town limits, $16.00 minimum and $7.00 per 1,000 gallons over the first 1,000; outside town limits, $20.00 minimum and $10.00 per 1,000; commercial customers, $24.00 minimum and $12.00 per 1,000. Council members framed the proposal as necessary to generate funds for capital projects identified in the town’s needs assessment.
Officials set a schedule to place an ordinance amendment on the May and June council agendas, with the possibility of approval at the June meeting. If adopted as scheduled, the new rates would take effect July 1, 2026.
The council did not record a final vote on the ordinance during the work session; the matter will return to a public meeting for formal readings and any vote.
