Funkstown property owners may see higher water bills

June 11, 2002|by SCOTT BUTKI

scottb@herald-mail.com

Funkstown property owners could soon face an increase in their water and sewer bills.

At Monday's meeting, Town Clerk Brenda Haynes presented the Funkstown Town Council with two possible fiscal 2003 budgets for the water and sewer enterprise funds: One included a 3.5 percent increase in the water rate, the other did not.

Fiscal year 2003 starts July 1.

The town's sewer rate is 75 percent of water usage.

The quarterly garbage rate remains at $22 in both budget proposals.

The town uses City of Hagerstown water but has its own sewer system, Haynes said.

The City of Hagerstown increased its water and sewer rates for fiscal 2003 by 3.5 percent.

After the meeting, Funkstown Mayor Robert L. Kline said he supports the town increasing its water rate.

For the person using 10,280 gallons of water, the water and sewer bill would increase by $2.91, according to town documents. The total bill, including garbage, would be $108.14.

For the person using 20,790 gallons of water, the total increase would be $5.67, documents said. The quarterly bill, including garbage, would be $189.42.

Without an increased water rate, the proposed water fund would have $160,000 in total revenues, according to town documents.

With an increase, the proposed water fund would have $165,500 in total revenues, documents said.

This year, $158,000 was budgeted for the water fund.

Without an increased rate, the proposed sewer fund would have $104,900 in total revenues, according to town documents.

With an increase, the proposed sewer fund would have $124,900 in total revenues, documents said.

This year, $102,900 was budgeted for the sewer fund.

The proposed Funkstown general fund budget for fiscal 2003 is $249,102, an increase over the present $233,231 budget, according to town documents.

The increase is the result of an increase in income tax revenues, Haynes said. While this year's budget estimated $30,000 in income tax revenues, the actual amount is closer to the $48,000 she estimated for the proposed fiscal 2003 budget, she said.

The Town Council is scheduled to vote to adopt a budget at a June 24 meeting at 7 p.m. at Funkstown Town Hall.

|

|

|