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County considering raising water and sewer rates

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 1:18 PM Tuesday, April 19, 2011

LEBANON — A rate increase could be on the horizon for Warren County water and sewer customers.

The increases are needed to cover the system’s higher operation and maintenance costs, according to Patty Solinsky, business manager for the county water and sewer department.

She recommended to county commission an increase of 1.5 percent for water service, 3 percent for sewer service and a three-year, $5 a month bi-monthly sewer capital improvement charge that would start in 2012.

Based on a bi-monthly water bill based on 12,000 gallons used and a 1.5 percent increase would go from the current $41.40 a month to $42 in 2012; $42.60 in 2013; and $43.40, according to Solinsky.

For sewer, based on 12,000 gallons a month the 3 percent increase and $5 improvement charge, that rate would go from the current $48.36 to $54.80 in 2012; $56.24 in 2013; and $57.80 in 2014, she said.

Solinsky said the $5 sewer capital improvement fee would generate $570,000 a year from its 19,000 sewer customers.

Those funds would be used to pay for future repair and expansion costs as well as building a reserve if the county has to borrow money, she said.

She said there would not be an increase in water or sewer tap-in fees.

Sanitary Engineer Chris Brausch said job losses and tighter family budgets are part of the reason water usage and revenues are lower for the county.

“The housing market is another reason for the rate increase,” she said. “There are a lot of empty houses out there not using water and sewer.”

Solinsky also said the system’s largest water and sewer customer, Sumco, has closed its plant. She said that plant used about 1 million gallons of water a day and close to that amount for sewage.

She said from 2005 to 2010, sewer rates have increased an average of 4.7 percent a year, while water rates have increased an average of 1.7 percent a year. There are about 26,000 water customers in the county system.

“We’re staying ahead in water and sewer, but we’re really treading water,” she said.

The system provides water and sewer services for several villages and the unincorporated portions of the county.

Brausch said the county also purchases water from neighboring systems in some of the outlying areas.

The commissioners asked to be provided the costs of planned capital water and sewer projects for 2011 and how much debt that might be incurred.

“We need to understand the revenues and amount of debt,” said Commissioner David Young. “We need the facts so we can make an informed decision.”

Brausch said some projects had not been factored in for the rate increase request. He asked to come back to an upcoming meeting with that information.

Contact this reporter at (513) 594-5546 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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