Water, sewer rates going up, but not as much as projected

GAINESVILLE - Water and sewer rates are going up again next year, but not as much as projected according to Gainesville Public Works Director Kelly Randall. Randall told City Council Thursday morning the increases support operations and the five year utilities capital improvement plan, which is also $100-million less than projected.

"The water rate increase that we're talking about is 4 percent, sanitary sewer is 4 and a quarter," Randall said.

Randall said last year the water rate increase was projected at six and a half percent, with a sewer rate at six percent, adding that 'belt tightening' and lower loan interest rates helped keep the rates down. The new rates take effect in January.

"We've cut our capital plan considerably," Randall said. "Historically it's been in the $200-million range over five years and we've dropped it to $102-million and those capital improvement plan projects are just what we absolutely feel we need to do."

Randall also told Council he is hopeful that the 11th Circuit Court will rule in Georgia's favor on the appeal of Judge Paul Magnuson's ruling that would shut down Lake Lanier as a water source next July. He said a ruling could come any day; that would send the case back to Magnuson and enable Gainesville to hold off building a water plant on Cedar Creek Reservoir.