Cloudy / 22° FCity hikes wastewater rate 3 percent
Published 10:17pm Monday, July 26, 2010By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star
Just two months after Niles residents saw a 4.5 percent increase in electric rates from the Niles Utilities Department, the Niles City Council unanimously approved a 3 percent wastewater rate adjustment Monday night.
The hike will take effect Aug. 1 and will mean a 71-cent per month increase for an average residential customer using seven units or 5,250 gallons of water.
The increase will help the city pay off a Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment State Revolving Fund loan and the interest that is set at 2.5 percent. The loan will help the wastewater division to complete a $7.6 million capital improvement program of its treatment plant.
The 3 percent hike is one of a series of stepped increases in wastewater. A 3.5 percent rate adjustment is recommended to take place in 2011 and 2012 with a 4.5 percent increase for 2013 and 2014 and a 5.5 percent increase in 2015.
The city also increased water rates 3 percent in April.
I love it a series of rate increases each building on the new rate from the previous year which in reality means a larger increase than if they were to initiate the entire 24.5 % increase right now.This is a cute trick because most wont do the math.As if living in this wonderful town weren’t treat enough now the prices to live in this wonderful city are rising.There are no jobs available in the area,little descent shopping for starters and the city is going to seed.I wish I had listened to my Realtor when they urged me to purchase elsewhere.