Seneca’s treatment charge liable to jump

Scott Moulder, Seneca city administrator, dropped strong hints last night that, as the city absorbs an anticipated treatment charge from county sewer, the city might pass on at least part of that increase to its customers.  However, at this point, everything is at the anticipation stage as both the city and the county’s Joint Regional Sewer Authority have yet to prepare new operating budgets for 2021-22. Moulder’s comments to his mayor and council reflect his capacity as JRSA board chairman.  In the sewer authority’s quest to balance its expenses with revenues, it must turn to its three municipal members:  Seneca, Walhalla, and Westminster. As the largest creator of wastewater, Seneca’s pro-rata share of costs is the highest.  Seneca could be looking at an increased treatment bill of between $800 thousand and $1.3 million.  Moulder said his preference would be for the JRSA to allow Seneca to phase-in payments over two to three years, but he has been told by his sewer colleagues they won’t allow that.   The city administrator responded to concerns raised by Councilman Dana Moore, who questioned whether Seneca is being treated unfairly by their Walhalla and Westminster counterparts whose JRSA voting clout exceeds Seneca’s.