Public hearing tonight about potential increases for water, other utilities | Local News

Council passage of Ordinance 24-05 would result in water rate increases that approach 60% in the first year of a multiyear plan. Wastewater rates would rise by more than 90%.

This ordinance, if approved, would replace Chapter 26 of the Roswell City Code, which focuses on water and wastewater operations.

These increases are meant to pay for such expenses as emergency repairs, debt service, infrastructure reinvestment and capital outlays. Other expenses for these city government enterprise operations include payments to the Roswell Air Center for water rights and transfers into the general fund, according to city staff.

Ordinance 24-07 would amend Chapter 21 of the city code, specifically Solid Waste rates. For example, the monthly cost for basic household trash pickup of 90-gallon individual or 300-gallon shared receptacles would go from $21.27 to $24.36 a month.

In March, Mayor Timothy Jennings wrote a memo to city councilors and City Manager Chad Cole asking for possible alternatives or ideas that might ease these proposed utility rate increases.

Any utility rate changes approved by the councilors, perhaps tonight, could go into effect as soon as July 1.

The city’s utility department has started to use a collection agency to pursue unpaid bills. Any money recouped is divided between the city and the collector. The city has also been taking some customers to court for nonpayment.

Also related to the…