Athens Mayor Ric Abel announced yesterday that the city will increase water rates by 3 percent starting Jan. 1.
The rate change is part of the city's plan to implement small increases in order to avoid large debt loads. The money will be used to cover things such as inflation increases in the cost of labor and replacing old parts of the water system, according to a news release.
The city has never been good at setting aside money for maintenance
said Ray Hazlett, the city's service-safety director. This goes towards replacing water lines and various other kinds of equipment.
In the past few years, the rate has increased by 4 percent, Hazlett said.
The new water base rates are established for each customer based on their home's peak monthly consumption from the previous year. Base rates change when the gallons used box on the water meter reads more than 15 ' or 15,000 gallons. If the water bill reads 15 or more for at least three months during the year, then a new base rate is established.
To reduce the base rate for the following year, the city recommends that customers conserve more water this year.
The current rates are available on the city's Web site at www.ci.athens.oh.us/utilities/rates.html.
17
Archives
