California, MD– On July 1 St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) increased their fees dramatically.
If first time home buyers pick up a new building permit they should pay close attention, because there are new charges now in effect.
The average home of 2,500 square feet can expect to have to install a sprinkler system within their home.
This sprinkler system will cost between $15,000-$20,000. Not to mention home owners will need to have a back up power supply if this system shuts down.
What Metcom is implementing is a water usage rate system, in which families will no longer be charged a flat rate.
Families will now be charged for their actual usage instead of a flat fee, which has always been their rate structure up until now. Parents with children moving out may benefit from this style of billing, but for the majority of families with children you can expect to see larger bills.
Residential billing is not the only change being made by MetCom, fees are increasing for commercial water usage as well.
A prominent developer in the county, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “to build a commercial project with 1 equivalent dwelling unit [EDU] back in 2012 cost $3,788.00 for a capital contribution charge.”
Today under the same fee structure that cost would increase to almost $17,000- That’s close to a 400% increase. If a person required 10 EDU’s- that would equal $170,000 or more in monthly bills.
Residential new home construction will have to pay an astronomical amount of money to have public water and sewer lines installed.
In addition, commercial building will be even worse, possibly driving a lot of potential commercial buildings to other counties.
The projected increase for the cost of acquiring one EDU is large. It is projected by the FY 2021 water commercial charges could be $16,654.69. This, combined with the sewer commercial charge nearing $10,995.23, could come to a total of $27,649.92.
It is possible to see a percentage increase of 649.72% from the FY 2012 to the projected FY 2021 for acquiring one EDU commercially.
Another developer, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retribution said “It’s time for the community to fight back at these outrageous actions, Ichniowski and Meiser need to go!’
While fees are increasing, the MetCom hierarchy part time and full time salaries have been consistently rising.
MetCom Director Dan Ichniowski will certainly leave a legacy under his tenure as MetCom director in 2015. Ichniowski, who is scheduled to retire as soon as a replacement is found, will be remembered for the largest increase in sewer/water fees the county has ever experienced.
MetCom has endured constant criticism from the public for their lack of response for customer satisfaction. They have justified their increase on the enormous pressures from the cost of infrastructure.
MetCom has over 91 employees, of which over half-a dozen earn a salary over $100,000 per year, with retirement packages. Some employees, like MetCom attorney Jackie Meiser, make well over $150,000 a year while working on a part- time basis.
It is hard to understand the rational of raising fees on residential new home construction when the economy is just now regaining strength.
Meiser was contacted by The BayNet for comment but was unavailable at the time.
Prices for FY2012 can be seen below.
http://lexleader.net/metcom-hold-hearing-raising-water-sewer-rates/
