Effective Monday, Sept. 1, monthly water rates in Oxford Village will increase by 5 percent.
Last night following a public hearing, council voted 4-1 to increase the minimum charge all village water customers pay for the first 2,000 gallons ? regardless of whether or not they use it ? from $17.20 to $18.10 per month.
The amount customers pay for any water used over the 2,000-gallon minimum was also increased from $3.25 to $3.41 per 1,000 gallons.
According to Manager Joe Young, the total monthly increase is expected to generate an additional $2,500 for the village water fund (or $30,000 per year).
This extra revenue will be used to help offset the cost of operating the existing water treatment plant which has been running in the red for the last two years.
Councilman Tom Benner cast the lone dissenting vote because he wanted the rate increase to be effective Oct. 1 so people could have some time to better prepare for it.
‘I know it’s not a large increase, but everybody is on a strict budget these days, especially the folks that have lost their job or are out of work,? he said.
‘We’re only talking roughly a $4.31 increase,? noted village President Chris Bishop.
Benner retorted that for some people, especially senior citizens, even that small amount can mean the difference between buying prescription medications or paying their water bill.
It’s possible village water customers will face future rate increases as the municipality goes forward with its plans to build a new and expanded water treatment plant for $2.45 million.
The current 30-year-old facility has significantly deteriorated due to age and is not capable of treating the potential capacity of the village’s existing wells.
Council has taken steps to help pay for the new treatment plant such as eliminating the village treasurer’s position as of Sept. 19.
Last night, council transferred the balance of funds for the treasurer’s position for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which amounted to $37,000, to the water fund to help offset the potential rate increase that will likely be needed to pay off the bond debt incurred by building a new treatment plant.
Between wages and benefits, the village treasurer earns $65,500 annually.