Residents connected to the Greenwood sewer system will begin receiving higher bills in January, after a series of rate increases was approved.
The city council approved raising sewer fees by 49 percent from 2017 to 2020. The average customer pays $32 dollars a month now. That average bill is projected to increase to $36 in 2017 and rise to $48 by 2020. Rates will increase by 13 percent in 2017, 11 percent in 2018, 10 percent in 2019 and 8 percent in 2020.
Money raised from the increase will be used to fund nearly $80 million in projects including a $62.2 million, 10-mile sewer pipeline and a $7.5 million public works building.
The council voted 7-1 in favor of raising the rates. City council member Chuck Landon voted against it. Council member Ezra Hill was absent.
Landon had supported paying for a portion of the projects with funds from tax-increment financing, or TIF, districts as a way to lower the rate increase. He also requested a senior discount be included to help those on limited incomes, but that amendment was voted down at a prior meeting.
Greenwood officials said the western regional interceptor pipeline is necessary to alleviate overflows of the undersized sewer system, comply with Indiana Department of Environment Management regulations and be prepared for future residential and commercial development.
The new public works building would house the sanitation, parks and recreation, street and stormwater departments, along with the city’s fleet of vehicle. Current facilities total about 150,000 square feet and are undersized, which means some vehicles and equipment must be kept outside, increasing maintenance costs and reducing their lifespan, city officials have said.
The council also approved a one-year program that would give homeowners a $100 credit to their sewer bill if they have their sump pump and downspout connections checked to make sure excess water isn’t being illegally sent into the sewer system, which can result in overflows during periods of heavy rain. The Find it Fix it Credit will be available during 2017.
The council voted 7-1 in favor of the proposal. Landon voted against it. In previous meetings, he said the program will create a list of people in compliance and not in compliance with the law, which he felt could be exploited.
