The Salem City Council has voted to raise water and sewer rates by 15 percent.
City Manager Rex Barbee says the increase will catch the city up from 13 years of no increases before a 25-percent increase was approved a year and a half ago.
“With the approval of the 15% increase scheduled for May 1st that will allow us to continue to be in the black as far as our current costs go. Or possibly help us get a little increase in our reserves. But basically, we are seeing some additional cost increases in materials and equipment so we are trying not to get caught behind schedule so that is why we wanted to discuss it at this point in time.”
Under the plan, the combined average minimum water and sewer bill for the first 2,000 gallons of usage will be $42.56 a month, an increase of 76 cents a month. The increase for a home using 3,000 gallons of water and sewer service will be $7.79 a month. For a customer using 6,000 gallons, the increase will be $12.35 a month.
Barbee now plans to develop a plan to have an automatic yearly water and sewer rate increase based on the consumer price index. That issue will come before the council at a later date.
Due to continued high fuel costs, the council agreed to keep the $1 per customer per month surcharge for garbage collector DBS. But starting with February billing, customers will have to pay the $1 cost instead of the city absorbing it. The surcharge will be reviewed again in about three months. While some have complained allowing the surcharge is not fair to other bidders on the contract, city officials note even with the extra $1 per month it is still lower than the next lowest bidder.
The council swore in Daniel Bosomworth as a sergeant in the police department. This is a new sergeant’s position, allowing Sergeant Tyler Rose to become the first sergeant to oversee the detective division.
The council passed a resolution to support the Tax Increment Financing District as an economic development tool. Barbee says there is some effort in the Chicago area to eliminate the state program.
The council approved a two-year contract with Metro-AG for the transportation and disposal of residuals from the wastewater and water treatment plants. The current .051 cents per gallon charge will increase to .06 cents per gallon of sludge.
