Local residents will pay a little bit more for their water and sewer and trash collection services, and it would cost more to have an animal euthanized in the local animal shelter, under proposed fee increases to be considered Tuesday by the Greenville City Council.
A vote on an ordinance to amend the City of Greenville fee schedule, as part of the current municipal budget, is included during Tuesday’s regular council session, starting at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 2821 Washington Street. A work session is also scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday.
In a memo to the council, Finance Director Cliff Copeland said fees used to support the budget must be changed to compensate for increases cost of operations, service agreements and capital improvements. Copeland said it has been a while since the last increase in the water and sewer fund.
“The Water and Sewer fund has passed on little of its increasing cost of services and infrastructure related to water production, distribution, wastewater collection and processing,” Copeland said. “The last rate increase for residential water customers was 2002 and in 2005 for wholesale water customers.
A 2011 rate study recommended changes to water and sewer rates to help recover cost of services and fund future capital improvements. Previous projects include the $2.73 million Center Point Lane water tower and the new $23 million wastewater treatment plant.”
Under the proposed rate changes, charges to solid waste customers for collection and disposal would increase about 5 percent; the minimum water bill would include only 2,000 gallons regardless of customer class or meter size while eliminating the “EPA Mandate” fee; and the service fee for Animal Control employees to euthanize an animal would increase from $55 to $125.