Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Leesburg discusses planned wastewater bill increase
Leesburg's utility customers could see a large spike in their wastewater bills in 2010.Mayor Kristen Umstattd and the Leesburg Town Council on Nov. 23 discussed whether they want to prevent that from happening.
Under the rate schedule council passed in August, wastewater rates for each quarter will be calculated based on the amount of water consumed, beginning Jan. 1.
Up until now, wastewater bills for each quarter have been calculated based on how much water is used during the winter quarter, which tends to be when most people consume the least amount of water.
Utilities Director Randy Shoemaker said that under the rates that will take effect Jan. 1, the average customer's utility bill will increase by about 22 percent. Some residents, like those who water their lawns in the summer and own swimming pools, will see even greater increases.
Councilman Ken Reid said he wants to look at cutting costs in the utility department rather than see bills rise.
“It seems to me like we’re gouging our residents, and the out-of-town people are getting gouged too,” Reid said. “Anything you can do to stop this from going into effect, I think it’s a good deal because I think this is pretty outrageous.”
Town Councilman Kevin Wright asked Shoemaker to look into how the county's utility provider, Loudoun Water, operates, to see if its method would work for Leesburg.
Shoemaker said Loudoun Water bills customers for wastewater on the lesser of two figures – either actual water usage, or winter water usage plus 3,000 gallons.
Council will have to pass a new way to calculate wastewater rates by Jan. 1 if it does not want the current plan to take affect.
You must be logged in to post a comment.