MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury water users will see an increase in their rates this fiscal year, while some residents will see their wastewater bill go down.
The Middlebury selectboard unanimously endorsed new fiscal year 2019 water and sewer rates on June 26. Fiscal year 2019 started on July 1 and ends on June 30, 2019.
A typical residential/commercial water user can expect to see their quarterly bill to rise by $8.22, based on consumption of 9,300 gallons during that three-month period, according to estimates prepared by town officials.
The current base water rate (for residential users) over a three-month period is going up from the current $35.52 to $43.74. The out-of-town customers’ base rate has been set at $48.74 (some water customers are just outside of the Middlebury town limits in Weybridge).
The water use charge in the town of Middlebury will stay the same, at $3.04 per 1,000 gallons for Middlebury properties, along with a rate of $3.84 per 1,000 gallons for out-of-towners.
The new water rate is based on a newly approved water system budget of $1,349,341 for fiscal year 2019.
Meanwhile, the selectboard also OK’d a new, quarterly wastewater base rate of $29 — down from the current $39.60 — while at the same time eliminating the 3,000-gallon minimum that has historically been charged to users. The current wastewater user charge of $7.78 per 1,000 gallons used is being decreased to $6.78 per 1,000 gallons used.
The new rate is based on a newly approved wastewater budget of $2,699,274 for fiscal year 2019.
Middlebury Director of Operations Dan Werner told the selectboard that wastewater customers who discharge less than 1,500 gallons of waste water per quarter will see a drop in their bills, as will customers above 20,000 gallons per quarter. But customers discharging quantities in the middle of that range will likely see an increase, according to Werner.
The bottom line, according to town officials: The typical residential water and wastewater user in Middlebury will see an average combined increase of $11.68 per quarter in their combined water/sewer bill.
Middlebury Public Works Operations Director Bill Kernan said the new rates will serve two purposes: To cover additional costs — including labor and maintenance of the water and sewer systems — while creating a more level rate paying formula for customers.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].