Supes set to consider sewer connection fee hike April 18

The county is contemplating a 4 percent sewer connection fee increase in addition to an equal increase to user fees. A public meeting to discuss the connection fee increase is scheduled Thursday, March 23, at 8 a.m., in the board of supervisors hearing room at 130 W. Congress.

At their Feb. 7 meeting, the supervisors voted to delay consideration of the user fee increase until a sewer rate study is complete, which is expected later this month or April.

During the February meeting, Supervisor Richard Elías proposed increasing connection fees by 4 percent along with user fees, but was told by legal staff that such a change would need its own public hearing.

On Wednesday, he told the Star that increasing both rates would be fairer because it would spread the burden between longtime ratepayers and developers and others putting in new homes.

Unlike user fees, which are assessed monthly, connection fees are charged once when “new construction connecting to the sewer system for the first time or for renovation of existing improvements which require additional or larger water meters,” according to the wastewater department’s 2016 financial plan.

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If the changes were to be approved, residential connection fees would increase from $4,066 to $4,229. Commercial and industrial fees are based on water meter size, and the full list of increases for different meter sizes can be found at tinyurl.com/lfnrpez.

The way the county calculates connection fees was last changed in 2012.

A 4 percent connection fee increases would bring in an additional $426,000 next fiscal year, according to county estimates. The 4 percent user fee increase, on the other hand, would bring in an additional $3.5 million, according to county Finance Director Keith Dommer.

Dommer told county officials that the user fee hikes are necessary to address declining wastewater revenues and rising costs, as well as stave off potentially serious financial consequences with county creditors.

The supervisors are scheduled to consider the connection fee hike at their April 18 meeting.