Montgomery and Prince George’s water customers would be charged a new fee based on their homes’ values, under a plan to replace aging water pipes floated by Prince George’s County water representatives Monday.
Officials with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which covers both counties, have proposed a $20 fee for customers to fund the replacement of aging pipes.
Montgomery County Councilmembers supported the fee, but Prince George’s County Council members and water commissioners were opposed to even discussing it. They said the fee would disproportionately harm seniors and low-income people.
“We tried to come up with an option that would not cause any disparity whatsoever,” WSSC Vice-Chair and Prince George’s Commissioner Joyce Starks said Monday.
In its first year, the Prince George’s proposal would tax residents of both counties 3.76 cents per $100 in assessed property value, which would result in the owner of a $250,000 house paying $94 and the owner of a $1 million home paying $376.
Assistant Attorney General William R. Varga said in a letter Monday he did not believe the water utility could collect a tax, but could use a surcharge to fund pipe replacement.
John Erzen, spokesman for Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson, said the Prince George’s commissioners’ proposal ensured the water surcharge would not be “regressive.”
“If you live in a $1 million home, you’d be paying more, and you’d probably be using more water anyway,” Erzen said.
Water commissioners are to meet Wednesday to decide on a rate plan.
Rising tide
» Under a new water fee plan, the more your home costs, the more you pay.
» The owner of a median-priced Prince George’s County home — about $299,900 — would pay an extra $110.96 each year.
» The owner of a median-priced Montgomery home — about $409,000 — would pay and extra $151.33 each year.
