Amador County - The City of Jackson will be mailing out a notice this week on a proposed water and sewer rate increase. Due to a dramatic increase in their wholesale rates from the Amador Water Agency, and a failed attempt to raise the rates last year, the City formed a Water & Sewer Rate Committee this past January to analyze the AWA wholesale rate increases and water and sewer budgets. The committee includes Joe Assereto, Bill Condrashoff, Kathy duBois, Judy Jebian, Jim Laughton, Ron Regan, and City Council Representative Wayne Garibaldi. After reviewing budgets and the tiered wholesale water rate increase from the AWA, the committee voted last week to recommend increasing the city’s rates for both water and sewer. The decision to raise rates stems from two issues. The AWA wholesale rate increase will put the city at a projected deficit of nearly 180,000 dollars, and the City must conduct further studies of Jackson Creek and Lake Amador as potable water supplies due to State Department of Public Health concerns. The latter issue will cost the city an additional projected amount of 300,000 dollars. The city will raise both water and sewer rates in two phases. Effective February 1, 2009, water service charges will increase from 12.98 per month to 14.80 per month, with the average sewer bill increasing from 23.87 to 27.69, and then effective July 1, 2009, water service charges will increase by another 1.18 per month, with sewer jumping another 1.66 per month. Proposition 218 requires that ratepayers be provided with a written notice detailing the increases at least 45 days prior to the public hearing, which is in this case, can be no earlier than Monday, December 29, if notices are mailed today, Friday, November 14. City officials plan to hold the public hearing at their city council meeting on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 7 pm at 33 Broadway in Jackson. Jackson residents may protest the increase by submitting a written protest letter to the City Clerk of Jackson. For more information, call 223-1646. Story by Jen Wilson
Thursday, 13 November 2008 23:50
Jackson Plans Water/Sewer Rate Hikes
Amador County - The City of Jackson will be mailing out a notice this week on a proposed water and sewer rate increase. Due to a dramatic increase in their wholesale rates from the Amador Water Agency, and a failed attempt to raise the rates last year, the City formed a Water & Sewer Rate Committee this past January to analyze the AWA wholesale rate increases and water and sewer budgets. The committee includes Joe Assereto, Bill Condrashoff, Kathy duBois, Judy Jebian, Jim Laughton, Ron Regan, and City Council Representative Wayne Garibaldi. After reviewing budgets and the tiered wholesale water rate increase from the AWA, the committee voted last week to recommend increasing the city’s rates for both water and sewer. The decision to raise rates stems from two issues. The AWA wholesale rate increase will put the city at a projected deficit of nearly 180,000 dollars, and the City must conduct further studies of Jackson Creek and Lake Amador as potable water supplies due to State Department of Public Health concerns. The latter issue will cost the city an additional projected amount of 300,000 dollars. The city will raise both water and sewer rates in two phases. Effective February 1, 2009, water service charges will increase from 12.98 per month to 14.80 per month, with the average sewer bill increasing from 23.87 to 27.69, and then effective July 1, 2009, water service charges will increase by another 1.18 per month, with sewer jumping another 1.66 per month. Proposition 218 requires that ratepayers be provided with a written notice detailing the increases at least 45 days prior to the public hearing, which is in this case, can be no earlier than Monday, December 29, if notices are mailed today, Friday, November 14. City officials plan to hold the public hearing at their city council meeting on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 7 pm at 33 Broadway in Jackson. Jackson residents may protest the increase by submitting a written protest letter to the City Clerk of Jackson. For more information, call 223-1646. Story by Jen Wilson
