Salem City Manager Rex Barbee told the city council Monday night he will ask for a review of water rates in the coming fiscal year.
Barbee’s comments came as the city reviewed the remainder of 2022 fiscal year budget.
“The water rate that we have and are charging our customers now hasn’t been updated for 15-20 years and other municipalities around us have an excess of what we are charging. I think if we raise that it would generate a little more revenue to do water line projects and that type of thing in the future.”
Barbee says department heads did a good job in holding the line on expenses as the city faces uncertainties as the country recovers from COVID-19. He notes they were careful not to overestimate revenues so they could complete the fiscal year in the black.
The council recommended no changes during the review of the budget that included everything not in the general fund.
The budget will come before the city council for approval at its April 19th meeting.
