Portage OKs rate hikes for trash, sewer fees
Joyce Russell joyce.russell@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2222
Mar 1, 2016
NWI Times
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-oks-rate-hikes-for-trash-sewer-fees/article_bcc99b42-e855-5b4b-bd4d-45efcbfa0d4e.html
PORTAGE — The City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved an overall $15 per month extra to residents' utility bills.
Approved was an increase of $9 per month for monthly sanitary sewer service and $6 per month for trash service.
The increases also include an annual increase of 50 cents per month for sanitary sewer services and 25 cents per month for trash starting in 2017. The approval will increase overall monthly bills, which include stormwater fees, from $47 to $62 per month. The increases will be effective with the June bills.
Few Portage residents attended the public hearing on the rate increases at Woodland Park. Four who spoke said they were against the increases.
The four felt it was too much at one time. They also said they felt it was unfair that older residents had to pay the same rates for both services as larger families.
Council members defended the increases.
"Over the past month we've had a lot of dialogue," Council President Mark Oprisko said.
He said the city is facing eroding pipes and other issues.
Portage Mayor James Snyder said the last rate increase for sanitary sewer service was 1996 and costs continue to increase to provide the service.
"We have to get our systems up and running," he said.
He also told residents the increase in trash fees will make the service self-sufficient.
The increase in the sanitary sewer fees were proposed to support a bond issue for improvements.
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