Mid-year sewer rate hike recommended

The finance committee of Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority will recommend a mid-year rate increase to the member cities as a way to help generate monies to pay for several pressing system improvements.  The committee was unanimous yesterday in suggesting a 20% increase to the three cities to treat wastewater, starting with bills to be due March 15.  Westminster’s Kevin Bronson says his city will have little choice other than to pass the increase onto its retail customers, and he speculated Seneca and Walhalla likely will do the same.  The 20% is to go in the form of a recommendation to the full sewer board meeting January 10.  That evening will also be an opportunity for the public to comment on the increase.  Committee members also indicated that the mid-year increase will likely be followed by once-a-year similar or identical increases starting with the JRSA’s new budget year July 1.  They hope that the availability of grants and loans through state and federal sources will have a calming effect on how much extra it’s going to cost to treat sewage.  Walhalla’s Scott Parris, chairman of the JRSA finance and administration committee, supported the recommendation, but said there are already “mumblings” in his city that the JRSA’s decision in 2019 to funnel back to the member cities millions of dollars in accumulated reserves was a foolish move that has helped create the difficult financial position that JRSA finds itself into today.