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Caldwell County will pass a 5% water rate increase tied to Lenoir bulk-rate rise
Summary
County staff said a 5% increase in water rates is proposed to pass along a higher bulk-water cost from Lenoir; example given shows a 3,000-gallon monthly bill rising from $29.68 to $31.13.
The county manager explained a proposed 5% increase to local water rates that primarily reflects a higher bulk purchase price from the City of Lenoir. Shane Fox said the water fund is an enterprise fund and debt-free, and the increase is intended to cover the higher wholesale costs and allow modest infrastructure set-asides.
Fox provided a concrete example of the change for residents: "Currently, if you have a 3,000 gallon a month invoice, you're gonna pay $29.68. That's gonna take it at $31.13." He said the fund derives more than 95% of its revenue from customer rates and that staff try to keep rates competitive compared with neighboring counties while maintaining capacity for repairs.
