The Manchester City Council has taken the first step towards increasing utility rates.
On Monday night, the Council approved the first reading and consideration of an ordinance amending the provisions of the Manchester Code of Ordinances pertaining to water, sewer and solid waste rates.
The water base rate will increase from $6.79 per month to $7.26 per month for standard ¾ inch meters. Water charges will increase by 7%, from $3.60 to $3.85 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption.
The water rate for water not returning to the sanitary sewer system will increase to a monthly basic service charge of 98 cents plus $4.52 per each 1,000 gallons of water consumption.
The sewer base rate will increase by 7% from $11.76 per month to $12.58 per month. Sewer charges will increase by 7% from $6.51 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption to $6.97 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption.
And solid waste fees will increase to $14.75 per month for each dwelling unit.
If a second and third reading is approved, City Manager Tim Vick says the first bill with the new changes will go out in late June for a July payment. The rates were last increased in November 2022.
In other Manchester City Council news, the Council has approved agreements with Delaware County for the transition of the Delaware County Communications Center. On April 1st, the center will transition from the City of Manchester to Delaware County for operations, with the Communication Center employees becoming County employees.
photo courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH
