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Richmond council approves sewer rate increase, raising usage charge by $2 per 1,000 gallons
Summary
The City Council adopted an ordinance increasing the sewer usage charge from $7.98 to $9.98 per 1,000 gallons after a public hearing. City Administrator Tonya Willim said the change is intended to cover rising operating costs and protect long-term debt service for the wastewater system.
The Richmond City Council voted unanimously Oct. 28 to raise the city’s sewer usage charge by $2.00 per 1,000 gallons, increasing the rate from $7.98 to $9.98, and adopted Bill No. 25-26 amending Section 700.100 of the municipal code.
City Administrator Tonya Willim told the council and public that the city’s wastewater rate has two parts: a base charge and a usage charge. “The base charge is $20.09 per month and is used to pay the debt service on the bonds that financed construction of the City's wastewater treatment plant,” Willim said, noting the bonds require about $580,000 per year. She said the city’s annual operating cost for wastewater is about $1,560,000 and that the proposed usage increase is intended to maintain system reliability and regulatory compliance.
Willim provided examples of the bill impact: a 1,500-gallon user would see about a $3-per-month increase, a 3,000-gallon user about $6, and a 5,000-gallon user about $10. “For an average household using around 4,000 gallons per month, the increase would be roughly $8.00 per month, or about 27 cents per day,” she said.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After the presentation and the close of the public hearing, Councilor Bob Bond moved to read Bill No. 25-26 for first and second reading; the council approved the readings and then adopted the ordinance by roll call (AYES: Bond, Guy, Hardwick, Brash, Paige, Williams) on a 6-0 vote.
By adopting the ordinance and the corresponding amendment to the city’s fee schedule (Resolution No. 470, considered separately), the council set the new usage charge that staff said will be used to cover testing and laboratory services, maintenance and replacement of equipment, electricity, lift station upkeep, sewer repairs, sludge disposal, staffing costs and insurance. The council packet says the city will continue pursuing grants and operational efficiencies to limit future rate pressures.
The public hearing opened at 6:38 p.m. and closed at 6:41 p.m.; the ordinance was adopted during the same meeting.
