Dr. Johnny Wilson provided us with the following information as to help people to understand these water bill increases and he has asked the question as to when the refund should be distributed back to the citizens since the City of Atlanta did not install the fire hydrants for homeland security as originally planned and that was one of the reasons for the water bill increase.
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Here It Comes: Water Bill Increase
City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed, Proposed New Water & Sewer Rates(2008-2012)
Facts:
The Department is asking the Atlanta City Council to approve a four-year rate package to become effective July 1, 2008. This rate increase is essential to ensure compliance with the Consent Decree and Consent Order schedules.
The Department has compiled important information for you to consider, as well as a Q&A to help you understand the proposed new rates. If you have additional
questions, please contact us at 404-589-3070.
1.The MOST, passed in February 2008 by Atlanta voters, is a four-year tax. The City is asking for a four-year water/sewer rate package that would be synchronized with the timing of the sales tax and provide the funding necessary to continue the federally mandated Consent Decree projects. The MOST allows the City to distribute the financial burden of the Clean Water Atlanta
program to visitors, businesspeople and others who use the City’s water and wastewater systems but do not pay City water/sewer bills.
What does this mean for the average water/sewer bill?
The average monthly water/sewer usage in Atlanta is 8 CCF. A CCF is 100 cubic feet or about 750 gallons. Consequently, 8 CCF equals about 6,000 gallons. Under 2007 rates, the average bill was $84.60. With the proposed increase, the average bill will increase by $22.94. (See rate comparison chart on page 3.)
How will customers be notified about the rate increases?
Information will be provided in the monthly water/sewer bill insert and on the City of Atlanta television channel (26). It will also be available on the City’s website (www.atlantaga.gov) and the Department’s website (www.atlantawatershed.org). Press releases will be issued to local media, and Department of Watershed Management personnel will attend every Neighborhood Planning Unit and other community meeting throughout May and June to explain the new rates
.What is the new four year rate increase?
The Department is requesting a four-year rate package that will be in effect from 2008 through 2012. Under the four-year rate package submitted to Council, water and sewer rates would increase by the year:
A. 2009 B.2010 C.2011 D.2012
12.0% 12.5% 12.5% 12.0%
Why is the rate increase higher than originally projected?
The projected rate increase for 2008 was 13 percent. However, the proposed rate is higher because of reduced revenues as a result of the State-mandated Drought Level 4 declaration in September 2007 requiring utilities to reduce their water production by 10 percent. Mandated increases in pension and benefits payments have also
