(LOOGOOTEE) – Monday night the Loogootee City Council met and unanimously approved a water and sewer rate increase for Martin County.
Water will increase by 43 percent and will be done in increased phases over the next three years. Sewer rates will increase by 35 percent.
The city’s water rate was last increased in 2002, while the sewer rate has not increased since 2012. City officials believe rate increases are necessary to finance proposed infrastructure water and sewer projects.
Rates will raise each January 1st for the next three years. The water ordinance calls for an increase of 20 percent in 2021, 17 percent in 2022, and 6 percent in 2023. The sewage ordinance calls for an increase of 15 percent each in 2021 and 2022 and 5 percent in 2023.
Based on an average usage of 4,000 gallons per month, the current rate is $31.54 for water and $47.51 for sewage. As the ordinances stand now, the rate increases would total $15.42 for water over three years, and $18.46 for sewage. That would bring the average bill to $46.94 for water and $65.97 for sewage.
