April 23, 2012
04/24/12 City of Plymouth water utility users will see a slight increase in their water bills beginning this summer.
Monday night members of the Plymouth Common Council approved on second and third readings an ordinance amending water rates for the City of Plymouth.
Speaking on behalf of the increase was the City’s financial consultant John Julian from Umbaugh. About a month to six weeks ago Umbaugh evaluated the annual financial report of the water utility and recommended a gradual increase which Julian said, “the result will keep the City in strong financial shape.”
The increase approved is 3% this year, another 3% in 2013, and again in 2014. Beginning with the May 2012 consumption and in your June 2012 bill users will see the increase. The next increase will come with your January 2013 consumption and the February 2013 billing while the final increase will be with the water usage in January 2014 and the February 2014 bill. At the end of the third year and for those following years there would be additional income in the amount of $160,000.
The effect on the average homeowner will be $.60 on their monthly bill.
Councilman Wayne Smith asked Julian to compare water rates in Plymouth to other communities of similar size. His comment was that Plymouth’s rates are on the low end and their maintaining good investments on the infrastructure has help them shine over other cities of the same size.