Fri Sep 03 2010
by Brent Hovey
Reporter
Aurora -- Local residents will see an increase in their water and sewer rates in 2009.
At its Aug. 11 meeting, City Council passed an increase of 15 percent for water and 11 percent for sewer. That translates into $88 a year for the average residential customer.
Water / sewer operating funds are in the red, according to Finance Director Bob Paul. With the increase, they should be in the black by the end of 2009.
The last time rates were raised was four years ago.
For several months in 2008, the rate increases were heavily discussed at Council and committee meetings.
On Aug. 11, the only voice against them in the public portion of the meeting came from Ward 6 rep Dreher.
He first claimed the proposed rates would be significantly higher than most surrounding municipalities.
"This is an increase of 117 percent," Dreher went on to say. "And that should not be passed on to the citizens in these economic times."
Ward 2's Dennis Kovach had been against the higher all-in-one-year increase from the start.
"I've been in favor of a [phased in] three-to five-year plan like we proposed at first," he said.
When it came time for Council to discuss the issue, Kovach and others sat silent.
When asked why he didn't speak up, Kovach answered, "sometimes you have to know when you're beat. Mr. Dreher said all we could.
"My ward doesn't even have water and I still voted no. That shows my support for the people of Aurora."
Under the new rates, Paul said a resident's average quarterly bill for the two utilities would increase from $160 to $182 for a total of $88 per year.
"It's a heavy burden next year, but after that, the only increases will be ones passed on by Portage County and Cleveland," he said.
The proposal was first presented to the city's finance committee last February.
"It's taken so long because we want to make sure we put the best program forward for everyone," Ward 4 Councilman George Horvat said.
"No matter what you do, someone will not like it, but it's something we have to do. I'll have to pay it, too."
Horvat added the city has tried to put off raising rates as long as possible.
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Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115
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