Columbus seeking water, sewer rate hike - Business First of Columbus:

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The proposal, which will be discussed at a publicv hearingat 6:30 p.m. Tuesdag at City Hall would boos t the average bill for a Columbus residentialp customerby $14 a Customers in suburbs servee by the Columbus system would pay $15 more a quarter. That would pump up the averagw quarterly billsto $209.18 in Columbus and $225.83 in suburbs, said Rick assistant director for the city’sd Department of Public Utilities. The proposed increase is belowthe double-digir percentage hike that utility officials were projectint for 2009 earlier this year, he said.
Part of the reasobn for the lower-than-expected Tilton said, is an improved sewer maintenanc program that has cut down on costs associatefd withsewage back-ups in basements and overflows into streams durinh heavy rains. In addition, passage of a bond issued by Columbusvoters Nov. 4 will result in lowere borrowing costs forthe city’s $2.5 billion sewer-systemm improvement program, he said. Much of that cost is to due to an mandat e that requires Columbus to replace oldetr parts of its sewer system and expand its sewag etreatment capacity. The goal is to reduce sewage spillzs into local riversand streams.
Columbus has boostefd its water and sewage ratesz by 8 percent or more in each of the last five Theyrose 12.5 percent this year after a 15 perceng increase in 2007.