Brundidge utility rates still not final
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Brundidge City Council still hasn’t reached a decision about whether it will implement the suggested utility rate increases for water, sewer and electricity.
The council passed the budget for fiscal year 2010 but hasn’t reached a decision on the best way to implement the changes.
It has discussed for months making changes in these rates, which would give residents a decrease on utility costs and an increase on water and sewer costs if implemented.
The issue wasn’t on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, but Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage said it was something that would come up in the Nov. 17 meeting.
“It’s something we need to make a decision on before January,” Ramage said.
If the suggestions are implemented, the city will raise the minimum monthly power charge, which is the fee for having power turned on, from $7.50 to $24 per month.
But, under the new rate structure, the city would decrease its cost per kilowatt-hour by 2 cents.
Which would save a resident who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours $7 in electric costs.
If the sewer and water rates are implemented it would cost residents about $14 more on 5,300 gallons of use, which is the city’s average.
But, one of the main things the council is still discussing is whether or not to implement it all at one time or over a three-year period.
In its meeting Tuesday, the council voted to amend the personnel policy to include the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday, instead of Columbus Day.
“We’ve always done that in my 30 years,” Ramage said. “We’ve worked Columbus Day to get the day after Thanksgiving off.”