Ansonia Sewer Fees Approved

The Ansonia Water Pollution Control Authority Wednesday approved a per-unit capital fee that requires homeowners and businesses to pay at least $285 extra each year. 

But the authority said next year it wants to revisit whether to charge people per volume instead. 

Just because we’re setting this rate at this time doesn’t mean it is set in stone,” said WPCA chairman Howard Madigosky. 

The new capital fee is added to the normal usage fee, and is being collected to help the WPCA pay for the city’s new waste water treatment plant.

The WPCA had to take out $36 million in loans to pay for the plant, and the capital fees will help pay for the loan, the interest on the loan over 20 years, and the WPCAs up-front share of the costs. 

CHANGES

The WPCA had proposed a rate schedule that started all sewer users at a base rate of $285 a year, and increased that figure based on the type of user. 

For example, a two-family home would pay two times the base rate, while a restaurant would pay two and a half times the base rate. 

The WPCA held a public hearing on those rates Tuesday, and decided to adjust some of the classifications based on the input received. 

For example, instead of charging schools and city buildings $285 a year, the WPCA voted to adjust that figure to $855 a year. 

It also added nursing homes as a classification, and voted to charge them $1,710 per year — the same amount being charged to hospitals. 

The WPCA also increased the rate for industrial businesses, laundry facilities, and non-profit clubs such as the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA.

NEXT YEAR

The base rate was not adjusted, though, because the WPCA plans to revisit the payment formula before next year’s billing cycle. 

Members said they wanted to evaluate a fee schedule based on usage, rather than a flat rate. 

Click the video at left to see public input from the hearing Tuesday.

My feeling is, like a gas bill, if you like your home very warm in the winter, you pay,” said WPCA member Gary Merlone. 

That system isn’t fool-proof, Madigosky said, because if everyone starts conserving the WPCA still has to pay the full price of the new facility. 

That may drive up the rates,” Madigosky said. If everybody starts to conserve, where do you go for the difference?”

The issue needs to be examined closer, Madigosky said. But the WPCA doesn’t have time to research the option before it wants to send out the first bill. 

The WPCA wants to issue two bills to users before the first loan payment of $2.2 million comes due in 2012, so there is cash on hand to make the payments. 

The new bills are expected to be sent out this month. 

The WPCA will have an appeals process in place for residents who want to contest the bill. 

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