Politics & Government

Watertown's Water/Sewer Rates Going Up 5%

The town's water and sewer rate hike is the first in two years.

Watertown's water/sewer rates will go up 5 percent, the first rate hike in two years.

The increase in the rate will pay for the budget increase of about $392,000 for the Water and Sewer enterprise funds, said Town Auditor Tom Tracy. The increase takes effect in Fiscal 2013, which begins July 1.

The 5 percent increase means:

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  • A family using 200 gallons a day will pay 15 cents more each day or $54.75 a year.
  • A household using 325 gallons a day will pay 26 cents more a day ($94.90 a year)
  • Someone using 410 gallons a day will pay an extra 34 cents ($124.10 a year)

The cost of the Watertown Enterprise Fund is $5.9 million and the Sewer Enterprise Fund is $8.8 million, for a total of $14.7 million in fiscal 2013.

Town Council Vice President Steve Corbett pointed out that water and sewer rates did not increase last year.

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"So it's 5 percent over two years," Corbett said. "We don't enjoy increasing the rate but we need money to cover the town's cost for Water and Sewer enterprise funds."


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