Princeton sets sewer rate increase

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PRINCETON — Princeton customers will see a rate increase in their sewer service, starting in May.

At Monday's meeting, the Princeton City Council unanimously approved the ordinance putting in place the sewer rate increase effective May 1.

According to the ordinance, the basic user rate for sewer system service per month will go up from the current $3.60 per 100 cubic feet of water usage to $3.75 cents per month, beginning May 1. Effective May 1, 2011, the monthly billing for basic user rate will be $3.90 per 100 cubic feet of water usage. Effective May 1, 2012, the bill will be $4.05 per 100 cubic feet of water usage.

The same rates apply to people inside and outside the city limits.

The ordinance also states for people using the sewer system but not city water, the basic rate will be $21 per month as of May 1, 2010; $21.90 as of May 1, 2011; and $22.70 as of May 1, 2012. There are only a few people in this category of using sewer system but not city water, Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said.

In further describing the increase, Fiegenschuh said his family uses about 1,000 cubic feet of water a month. For him, the new increase would raise his bill an additional $1.50 starting in May. The average household uses between 600 and 1,000 cubic feet of water per month, he said.

Mayor Keith Cain said he expected to see a monthly increase in his bill of about $1.20.

The rate increase is needed to help offset the rising costs of operations and maintenance for the city’s sewer system, Fiegenschuh said. The city council has decided to look at the various rates each year and make smaller adjustments as needed, rather than to do larger increases less frequently.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council unanimously approved a five-year contract with Princeton Professional Fire Fighters Local 4308. The contract calls for a 2 percent wage increase in the first year, with wages and insurance to be renegotiated each May of the following four years of the contract.

Fiegenschuh said the fire fighter union had asked for the five-year contract. He also prefers a long-term contract because of the time involved in negotiations.

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