Water Bills Monthly or Quarterly? What do you think? The Port Huron City Council will vote Monday whether to start monthly billing for water and sewer. City Manager James Freed said the proposal has changed since it was first brought to the council in May. He said the only change residents will see is a bill in the mail every month instead of every quarter. Originally the city administration had said it would require hiring two new employees and increase the average homeowner’s cost from $56.49 every three months to $58.62 every three months. Freed said no additional hiring will be done, and the only cost increase will be postage, which will not be rolled over to residents. “I’m not under the belief that every time the government has to do something we have to hire more people, I believe we can do it ourselves,” he said. Freed started with the city in June. “They were given a worst-case scenario,” he said. “I have a high level of expectations.” Freed said he expects the department to run in an efficient manner, not requiring the extra employees and cost. “The move to monthly billing is being considered because residents have requested it,” he said. “It will help our low- to moderate-income people and those on fixed incomes ... to be able to pay their bill easier in monthly payments instead of huge lump-sums,” Freed said. Monthly billing may also alert people earlier to the possibility of a water leak, Freed said, and it should help residents prevent becoming delinquent on payments. The council also will again hear Freed’s presentation on a proposed water and sewer fee increase. The $11.79 per month additional fee is needed to help balance the utility funds, which are running a nearly $5 million annual deficit, Freed said. The city has an outstanding $107 million debt from its state-mandated sewer separation project. Freed said he doesn’t expect the fee increase to come to a vote until the council’s first meeting in November. If the hike is approved, the average water and sewer bill for Port Huron residents would be $75.46 per month.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 14:56:27 +0000
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