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Planned water, sewer rate hike canceled for Montgomery County

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer Updated 10:32 PM Tuesday, December 15, 2009

DAYTON — A planned 5 percent rate increase for water and sewer customers was rescinded by Montgomery County Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 15, saving the average residential user about $30.32 annually.

The savings to the average commercial user will be about $405.48 per year, said Gregory Merrill, director of water services.

Citing the bad economy, County Administrator Deborah Feldman said she asked the county water services department to find ways to reduce costs to give rate payers relief from the planned increase.

“Many of our families are struggling during these tough economic times. We hope this decision will help ease some financial stress for our citizens,” said Montgomery County Commission President Dan Foley.

Montgomery County provides water and sewer services to all or part of 14 communities. Dayton is not one of them.

Rescinding the rate increase will cost the county $3.8 million in lost revenues for the water and sewer fund, according to Merrill.

The decision comes even as the county’s costs have increased due to rate hikes of 3.5 percent by Dayton and 47 percent by Greene County, both of which provide sewage treatment services for portions of Montgomery County.

The rate increase would have been the third in a three-year package of scheduled rate increases that began in 2008. Rates for 2011 will be evaluated at the end of the upcoming year.

ED/GE grant approved for Caterpillar

Also Tuesday, Commissioners approved a $700,000 economic development/government equity agreement with Clayton for Caterpillar Logistics Services.

Commissioners already agreed to the grant, and this vote released the money.

Caterpillar agreed to construct a $68.6 million distribution center at Commerce Park on Hoke Road in Clayton.

The company credited incentives and the site’s proximity to interstates 70 and 75 for the decision to build in Clayton.

The city of Clayton agreed to donate 163 acres of land and the state of Ohio threw in a tax break package worth $1.85 million.

Caterpillar said its distribution center — its second-largest in the U.S. — will bring 500 to 600 new jobs paying starting at $11.75 an hour plus benefits and an annual payroll of $12 million to $14 million.

County budget, including wage freeze, approved

Commissioners also approved the 2010 budget, which includes a wage freeze, across-the-board cuts, layoffs and a reduction in 171 positions. The county will spend $851.6 million next year, much of which comes from federal, state and local funds that cover restricted uses, such as the county department of job and family services.

The General Fund portion of the budget totals $141.3 million and that is the area where most cuts are occurring, due to dramatic declines in revenue from sales tax, property-related revenues and investment income.

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Hey "Sympathy/not"
I work nights watching over the kids that have been abused and discarded by all of you libertarian/teabagger types like that think everything the government does is not necessary. So don't worry, I am not reading the paper or taxpayer time.

countyemployee
10:42 AM, 12/17/2009

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Thank you Montgomery county for realizing the state of the economy that we are all struggling with. It is shame that our "big city leaders" out in small city of Brookville haven't realized the shape we all are in.... a wage increase for employees...give me a break.

Sunny
8:49 AM, 12/16/2009

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Tax increases canceled..does that mean that they will eventually? I hope not. Why not get ride of half the Sanitary Dept most of them have over 30 years and milking the system. Why is it always a fee increase and not good management?

about time
7:42 AM, 12/16/2009

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Well its about time someone slapped the county commisioners with a big ole bottle of V-8. Its about time somebody realizes that your raising things alot more than the people can afford to take. I guess the commisioners have noticed the way things have changed, now that they removed their heads from the sand where theyve been buried for years and years. I never could figure out how some dumba$$ figured that the economy is bad, lets raise all the taxes and make a bunch for money for government.

FreedomWriter
11:04 PM, 12/15/2009

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I think this is a good move... By the way, whatever it is you're putting into the water to make stupid people go to the polls and vote for tax increases.. WOULD YOU STOP ALREADY???

Clem Kadidlehopper
7:38 PM, 12/15/2009

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