The St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, May 7 on a proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget that includes rate increases for both water and sewer service. St. Mary’s County’s water and sewer authority has imposed rate increases every year since 2010. This year proposed increase is higher than the one levied last year. The intent is to have rates reflect MetCom costs instead of imposing larger increases every few years, as had been done in the past.
Sewer service rates will increase 9.7 percent for metered and non-metered customers and for overage usage per 1,000 gallons over 16,200 gallons per quarter for metered customers. Water rates will increase by more than 7 percent for metered, non-metered, hydrant metered and overage. Increases last year were 4.14 percent for sewer and 3.31 for water.
The commission is also proposing to increase system improvement charges per equivalent dwelling unit for both water and sewer. They also are proposing to substantially increase the one time connection charge for both water and sewer. Sewer charges will more than double and water charges slightly less than double.
The proposed budget includes a three-percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COL<A) for employees at Grade15 and lower and a two percent COLA for employees above Grade 15, according to MetCom Chief Financial Officer Becky Shick.
A capital improvement budget will also be presented at the hearing that includes proposed expenditures of $23.7 million for water improvements and $15.5 million for sewer improvements in addition to prior approvals.
The public hearing is at 6:30 at the MetCom Administrative Offices at 23121 Camden Way in California in the First Colony shopping center.
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