Water, Sewer Rates In St. Mary Going Up By 20 Percent

Residents of the city of St. Mary will pay 20 percent more for water and sewer services beginning with the bills due on June 10.

The St. Mary Board of Aldermen, after a little verbal sparring, voted unanimously during its meeting last Thursday to increase both rates.

The water rate will increase from $24.15 to $28.98 for the first 1,000 gallons and from $11.29 to $13.55 for each additional 1,000 gallons,

The sewer rate will increase from $18.95 to $24.07 for the first 1,000 gallons and $7.88 to $10.01 for each additional 1,000 gallons.

The board had discussed rates in recent months, and citizens spoke for and against rate increases at the April meeting, One citizen was concerned about the increase, but others — including a former mayor — said the city should have increased them already to follow actions of the Public Water Supply District (PWSD) No. 1, the city’s water supplier.

During that meeting, the rate increase was arrived at by way of a poll, with aldermen Cody Myers and Jennifer Schwartz in favor of a 20 percent increase while Brian Helms and Jennifer Weiss favored smaller percentages. Mayor Gloria Bader said she would, if needed, break a tie in favor of 20 percent, so city clerk David Woods drafted a bill for that amount.

See complete story in the May 15 edition of the Herald.