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Louisa council to adopt meter‑based calculation for commercial sewer connection fees
Summary
Council voted to amend the FY2025‑26 fee schedule to calculate commercial sewer connection fees based on monthly water usage (meter size/gallons per month) rather than minimum pipe size; installation costs will remain separate and the town attorney noted the schedule must be finalized by ordinance.
Louisa town staff proposed and council approved a staff‑recommended change to the town's sewer connection fee calculation method, moving from a model tied to minimum pipe size to one based on monthly water usage and meter size.
Staff said the policy change aligns the town with the Louisa County Water Authority's practice and will reduce the steep fee example previously cited (a 4‑inch connection fee previously discussed at about $252,000 before installation costs). Town staff told council that changing the basis of the fee to monthly gallons and meter size would reduce the charge for many customers and be perceived as fairer for small users.
Councilors discussed how installation costs would be handled: staff stressed that installation charges remain separate from the connection fee calculation and that customers can still choose to perform installation work themselves in some cases. The town attorney advised council that fee schedules are adopted by ordinance and recommended staff prepare ordinance language and clarifying footnotes mirroring LCWA verbiage.
"A $252,000 connection fee for a 4‑inch sewer line, while consistent with the standards manual, is perceived as unfair," a staff presenter said during the meeting; council asked staff to add explanatory verbiage and to present ordinance language during the next budget/ordinance cycle.
Council moved to approve the staff recommendation with edits to the draft wording; staff will prepare ordinance language and bring it back for formal adoption as part of the town's budget and ordinance process.
