GREENE – As of June 1, Greene’s village residents will not only be paying more for their water, but they will also be paying more often.
Following a public hearing held Monday night, the village board of trustees voted unanimously to adopt a new rate schedule which will raise water rates and begin billing on a monthly basis rather than quarterly. The rate increase will be partially offset by a decrease in sewer rates.
According to Mayor Marcia Miller, the change is the first in four years. It was made necessary, she said, because of the rising costs associated with operating the municipal water system and wastewater treatment facility.
“In the past we’ve been able to absorb it,” Miller said, but given the current economy that is no longer possible.
Village residents who are currently paying $10 for their first 5,000 gallons and $2 per additional thousand gallons on a quarterly basis, will now pay $6 for the first 3,000 gallons and $2.50 per thousand gallons over that amount as well as a new monthly meter charge of $2.
Rural customers, water districts and private contracts currently pay $12.50 for the first 5,000 gallons and $2.50 for each additional thousand gallons. As of June 1, these customers will be charged $7.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $3.25 for every thousand gallons over that base amount, along with the $2 meter charge.
Minimum charges will also change with the new rate schedule. On a monthly basis, village residents will pay a minimum of $8 per billing cycle which includes the meter fee, rural non-residents $9.50, non-metered residents $15, and non-metered rural customers $18.75. Previously these minimum charges were billed on a quarterly basis with village residents paying a minimum of $10 per billing cycle, rural non-residents $12.50 and non-metered customers $25.
What will the change mean for customers? With the new rates, a residential dwelling in the village which uses under 3,000 gallons a month will see their yearly water expenditures more than double from $40 to $96.
According to Miller, the new rates still compare favorably to other local municipalities. She used the Village of Oxford, where residents pay a quarterly minimum of $35 for the first 4,000 gallons, as an example.
The water rate increase will also be partially offset by a corresponding 5 percent decrease in sewer charges. Currently charged at water billing plus 80 percent, as of June 1 customers will pay water billing plus 75 percent. These sewer rates apply for village residents, non-metered, rural and contract customers.
Miller said she believes that the change to monthly billing will make it easier for residents to budget expenses. It will also help identify leaks more quickly, she explained, which can become expensive if they are not caught in a timely fashion.
To facilitate the monthly reading of meters, which is currently done by hand, the Water Department will be retrofitting meters so they can be read electronically using the same hand-held reader used by the municipal electric department. In April, the board authorized an expenditure of $38,000 from the department’s reserves to purchase the components necessary to make the change.
According to Public Works Superintendent Bob Nowalk, installations could begin as early as next week.
While several village residents were present during the public hearing, which was held during the board of trustee’s regular monthly meeting, none raised questions or concerns regarding the water and sewer rate changes.
When Trustee Rod Andrews expressed surprise that no residents had used the public hearing as an opportunity to comment about the rate increase, Village Clerk Treasurer Sue Jones reported that residents had been coming to the Village Office with concerns and to ask questions about how the changes would affect their individual bills.
The new rate changes will take effect on June 1. For additional information contact the Village of Greene Office at 656-4500.