Pikeville proposes sewer rate increase
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on May 21, 2004 2:00 PM
PIKEVILLE -- The town board has proposed increasing sewer rates for all of its customers.
The increase is included in the upcoming 2004-2005 budget, which the board discussed on Thursday with its accountant, Gary Pittman. The increase would begin July 1.
Fees for all residential and commercial customers within the town limits would be $4.18 per 1,000 gallons, which is up from $3.42.
The rate for those outside the town limits would be $6.26, which is up from $5.13.
Increasing the rates will bring some revenue back into the town's water and sewer fund, which will go broke by June 30, said Pittman.
The board amended this year's budget to spend $18,000 for contracted services, which it had to pay before it accepted a $3 million grant from the N.C. Environmental Management Commission for a new sewer system. This expense also contributed to the fund going broke.
Town Clerk Kathie Fields said the town faced a similar situation with the water and sewer fund in the 1998-1999 budget, and the board increased the rates for customers inside and outside of town limits.
The proposed budget also includes a 3 percent salary increase across the board for all full-time employees. That amount could change before the budget gets its final approval, though, said Ms. Fields.
There is also a proposal to increase the part-time police officer's pay from $9 to $10 an hour.
The board has placed $93,000 in the budget to demolish the old school. It hopes to get a grant to help with the demolition, and the $93,000 would be the town's match.
Two new items in the budget are $17,000 to purchase a new dump truck and $10,000 to purchase a chipper.
Prior to meeting about the budget, the board approved purchasing a new police car for $23,944. The money for the vehicle was already in the budget that ends June 30.
The public hearing on the budget is tentatively scheduled for June 28, and the next monthly board meeting will be June 7.