[ back ]
Canal Winchester considers water/sewer rate hike
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - January 20, 2010)
Water and sewer revenue is trickling in to Canal Winchester coffers, but expenses are flowing out and forcing the village to stem a stream of red ink by raising rates.
At its Jan. 19 meeting, Canal Winchester Village Council heard the first readings of a pair of ordinances increasing water and sanitary sewer user fees.
"Right now, our revenues don't meet expenditures," said Councilwoman Leah Turner. "Nobody wants to raise rates, but it looks like we have to."
According to the proposed legislation:
•the charge per 1,000 gallons of water for the first 4,000 gallons per two month billing period will be $5.52 through 2011 and rise incrementally to $5.85 in 2014;
•for water customers using over 4,000 gallons per two month billing period, the cost rises to $5.65 next year and also peaks at $5.85 in 2014;
•sanitary sewer service charges for the first 4,000 gallons per two month billing period are $5.52 for two years and then $5.65 for the next three years;
•for the same billing cycle, the charge for over 4,000 gallons is $5.03 for 2010 and rising to $5.65 in 2014 and Lithopolis sewer customers pay $3.05 this year, with charges rising to $3.82 in five years.
"This is a 70 cent raise for both over a five year period of time," Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said.
Even though expenditures outpaced revenue for water and sewer, Finance Director Nanisa Osborn said the village ended the year in a positive financial position due to the efforts of staff management. She said 2009 was a year of declining revenue, with high and low points, but Canal Winchester carved out a $2.6 million carryover into 2010, which was up from 2008 by $50,000.
"We were able to control expenses to make this all come together," Osborn said. "I was thrilled we got through December without being in a negative position."
Other Canal Winchester news
•A public hearing is scheduled for Feb.1, 6:30 p.m., for an appeal on a Landmarks Commission decision regarding the former Cellar Lumber location.
Development Director Chris Strayer said Robert Patrella, president of the Guernsey Bank wrote, "Please accept this as the desire of the Guernsey Bank to appeal the recent decision of the Landmarks Commission regarding the removal of the buildings on our property.
"We would like to have the ability to remove the buildings on the property located at 45 E. Waterloo St....We believe the site would better lend itself to development if our future buyer could view the entire property without the existing structures in place..."
[ back ]
