Water rates to increase here to offset additional Elyria charges

by JOHN LASKO

News-Times reporter

When residents and business owners receive their water bills in the mail next month, they will be paying 75 cents more per 1,000 gallons of water.

At the June 22 meeting of city council, safety-service director Dennis Clotz said the water rate increase would take effect today as a means of meeting expenses in the water department.

"As you know, the balance in the city's water fund has been declining over the past several years and is projected to continue to decline in the future," Clotz said.

The water rate breaks down into a service fee and a water supply cost adjustment (WSCA). That latter portion of the bill reflects the cost of purchases of water from the city of Elyria.

Recently, Elyria officials raised the rates Amherst pays for water. John Courtney -- the city's utility rate consultant -- suggested the city amend its WSCA provision in the city's water rates from 94 cents to $1.69 per 1,000 gallons.

"Based on his analysis, it appears that water revenues will need to be increased in order to meet the projected near-term revenue requirements," Clotz said.

As a result of the increase, effective today, the city increase the WSCA by 75 cents per thousand gallons of water for residential and business customers inside the city limits. Sixty cents of that increase is attributable to the higher rate the city pays to Elyria, and 15 cents will go to replenish the city's declining water fund.

"With this increase, our water rates will still be below the state average," Clotz said, adding the city's water rates have not increased for nearly 10 years.

For instance, homeowners living inside the city and use a minimum of 3,000 gallons of water each month used to pay $8.76. Under the new rate structure, the minimum water bill will increase to $10.92.

"People who live in Amherst Township will also see an increase on their water bills," Clotz said. "Our rate consultant recommended that, consistent with the city's base water rates, the WSCA applicable to water customers located outside the city be adjusted to reflect 150 percent of the WSCA applicable to water customers located inside of the city."

For example, those who live in the township and use a minimum of 3,000 gallons of water every month can now expect to pay a total of $16.39. Clotz was quick to point out this amount is $24.43 less then the Northern Ohio Rural Water (NORW) authority charges their Amherst Township customers to provide them water services.

"We do not like or even want to raise rates for our customers," Clotz said. "But its a matter of an economic necessity because we can't absorb this increase from our supplier."

Amherst Township customers who use 5,000 gallons of water can expect to pay $29.51 a month, compared to $64.46 NORW would charge these same individuals.

"We will continue to do everything we can to provide our water customers the best service possible at the lowest possible cost for our customers," Clotz said.