Westminster residents will have to get used to paying higher water and sewer fees.
Before Monday evening?s public hearing on the proposed 20 percent increases in Westminster?s water and sewer rates, Mayor Thomas Ferguson said there was little chance for a reduction.
“I don?t expect any change to water and sewer rates because of the critical projects we need to complete,” Ferguson said.
Regarding sewer fees, Ferguson said the capital improvements with the largest price tag are the city?s efforts to meet an upcoming state mandate for enhanced nutrient removal from Westminster?s wastewater.
“This effort is to help the Chesapeake Bay and will become mandatory in the next two to three years ? it?s going to be very expensive,” Ferguson said.
“On the water side, there are a lot more projects, the biggest one being the new water treatment plant for the city?s drinking water.”
Ferguson said the city initially assessed if it would be worth retrofitting the current plant?s 1950s technology, but ultimately decided against it.
“The current plant sits in a floodplain and we ultimately determined it was more practical and cost-effective to build a new plant,” said Ferguson, adding the new plant would be right next door to the current facility but on higher terrain.
The city is borrowing money for this project, with the debt service to be paid over the next 25 years.
Commenting on the entire budget process, including expected property tax increases, Westminster City Council Member Suzanne Albert said the finance committee worked hard to cut the budget “to the bare bones,” but it wouldn?t necessarily be enough to forestall the proposed water and sewer fee hikes.
