Rates would increase incrementally over next three years
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
With WalCoMet rates increasing and the City of Elkhorn’s sewage system working in a deficit, the Common Council is looking to increasing sewage rates by roughly 20 percent over the next three years, at about $5 per month for the average user.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said Nov. 12 WalCoMet’s rates are expected to rise again and result in a 9 percent increase in the city’s operating costs. Over the past four years, he said, the city’s system has also been showing a 7 percent average deficit in the operation.
If the city were to continue to only increase rates in line with the WalCoMet increase, Tapson said it’s likely the city will continue to find itself working in a deficit.
“We come up short, year upon year,” Tapson said. “I really think we have to take a look at whether or not that makes sense to do this much longer.”
Tapson said a 20 percent increase would bring the city’s budget for the system into a slight operating surplus, just as its utilities do, and cover infrastructure and maintenance costs.
Read more of the discussion in the Nov. 15 Independent.
