11/13/2009 11:18:00 AM Jerome council intends to raise water, sewer rates Ordinance will be approved mid December
Town Manager Candace Gallagher told the council that the intent to raise rates must be posted or published 30 days before the council can vote to make the new rates official. That requires a public hearing with a first reading of the ordinance.
JEROME - The Town Council Tuesday night unanimously agreed to give notice of its intent to increase water and sewer rates. Water rates will be raised 28 percent above existing rates, and sewer rates will be calculated at 128.3 percent of water rates.
Town Manager Candace Gallagher told the council that the intent to raise rates must be posted or published 30 days before the council can vote to make the new rates official. That requires a public hearing with a first reading of the ordinance.
The council voted to have that hearing Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
State law requires that a second hearing and second reading can be held two days, or more, after the first hearing. The council scheduled a meeting for Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. for the second hearing and reading.
The council's attorney said state law requires a written report 30 days prior to voting on the notice of intent that the council had just passed. The report must explain why the rates need to be raised.
After some discussion, the council decided that the minutes of its July and August meetings did meet the statute requirements.
The notice of intent states "rate increases are necessary in order to generate sufficient revenues to cover increased costs of operation for the water and sewer utilities."
The new water and sewer rates will be effective Feb. 1.
