Writer: Haley Garrett
Published December 23, 2021
WGXA News
Monroe County Commissioners approved an increase in residential and commercial water rates.
Starting on January 1, 2022, the residential base rate will remain at $16 dollars for usage up to 1,000 gallons. However, for residential customers using between 1,001 and 4,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $6.55 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $7.59 per 1,000 gallons in 2022. For residential customers using between 4,001 and 10,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $7.74 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $8.97 per 1,000 gallons in 2022. For residential customers using in excess of 10,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $8.93 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $10.35 per 1,000 gallons in 2022.
For commercial use rate starting in 2022, it will remain at $75.00 for usage up to 1,000 gallons. However, for commercial customers using between 1,001 and 10,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $6.55 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $8.97 per 1,000 gallons in 2022. For commercial customers using between 10,001 and 40,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $8.33 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $10.35 per 1,000 gallons in 2022. For commercial customers using in excess of 40,000 gallons of water, the price will rise from $9.52 per 1,000 gallons in 2021 to $11.04 per 1,000 gallons in 2022.
This increase will allow the county to continue its five-year plan created in 2019 to break even in the water department by 2024.
The plan was engaged after the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) evaluated Monroe County’s water rates.
CVIOG then recommended a five-year rate plan to Commissioners that would allow the county to equal its losses, including depreciation costs by 2024.
Monroe County is projected to finish 2021 with an operational profit of $207,132 but will still finish in the red overall with a loss of $590,955 due to nearly $800,000 in depreciation.
With this in mind, during the last Tuesday commissioner meeting it was proposed by County Manager Jim Hedges that commissioners could either maintain the 2021 water rates and not impose any increase, eliminate 1,000 gallons from the base rate, which would generate an estimated revenue increase of $293,000 annually, or increase the 2022 water rates according to the agreed-upon CVOIG schedule.
After ten minutes of discussion, commissioners motioned to approve the third option of increasing the water rates according to the CVIOG schedule.
