City officials proposed a 4 percent increase to water bills for the region?s 1.8 million customers who draw from Baltimore City?s three major reservoirs Wednesday.
Customers in Anne Arundel, Carroll and Howard counties and Baltimore will face a much smaller increase than originally forecast for using city-supplied water.
At the weekly city Board of Estimates meeting, officials form the city?s water bureau said cost cutting and efficiencies allowed the agency to seek the lower than anticipated rate increase.
“We?ve found places to cut expenses and be more efficient,” said KurtKocher, spokesman for the water bureau.
In 2007, city officials proposed a three-year, 9 percent increase in water rates. But the proposal met with stiff resistance from city leaders, resulting in a one-time annual 9 percent increase last year.
Wednesday?s surprise announcement came with warning that next year?s increase could be in the “high single digits.”
The rate increase coincided with new policies to helping city resident cope with rising water bills.
The Board of Estimates approved a 30 percent discount for the city?s senior citizens. Residents over age 65 who make less than $25,000 per year are eligible for the discount.
The board also approved an extra $25 for hardship grants to low-income residents to a maximum of $125 per year.
The city also set a lower debt threshold for turning off water for homeowners who fall behind on their bill from $500 to $250.
The new policy, which includes earlier notification of the customer that their property could be sold to satisfy the debt will prevent such sales, said acting
Director of Public Works David Scott.
“We want to intervene early in the process.”
City Council Member Bernard “Jack” Young, D-12th, who fought hard to prevent delinquent water bills from claiming people?s homes, said he was pleased.
“This is a step in the right in the direction, but we have more work to do.”
The Board of Estimates will vote on the increase after a May 25 public hearing.
