Audio clip
Julian Burke
CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Officials with the Chatsworth Water Works Commission say they had no choice but to raise water and sewer rates as of April 1, 2010.
“These (decisions) weren’t taken lightly, because I don’t want my water rates to increase either,” board member Jerry Luffman said. “It was just something that was necessary and had to be done.”
May bills will reflect the new rates, and customers can expect to pay from 12 percent to 25 percent more depending on the type of property, location and services, officials said. The commission serves Chatsworth, Eton and about 70 percent of Murray County, General Manager Tom Martin said.
Costs are going up because “expenses are rising and revenues declining,” Mr. Martin said.
Assistant General Manager Julian Burke said costs for things such as energy, chemicals, maintenance and employee retirement are up. He said the commission’s 2010 budget is about $5.4 million, compared with the 2009 budget of about $4.9 million. The commission is a nonprofit organization, and its only revenue comes from fees, he said.
Mr. Burke said customers are using less water, so the commission is seeing less revenue.
He said customers used about 76 million gallons in 2004 and about 68 million gallons in 2009.
“Industrial usage has (gone) down tremendously; the housing market is dead,” he said.
Mr. Martin said the commission spent several months working to keep rate increases to a minimum.
For one, he said all employees were furloughed the equivalent of two work days per month from April to August. Also, the commission is operating with 36 employees, down from about 41 a year ago, he said.
Other changes include an automated meter reading system that reduced the number of employees and days for meter reading. Also, the commission consolidated its offices and warehouse into one building, Mr. Martin said.
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