Two local municipalities are struggling to absorb rate increases from the city of Chattanooga for water and sewage services.
Both Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe are looking at passing some of the 9.8% hike on to customers. The matter will next be discussed at the cities’ respective city council meetings July 22.
Ringgold has yet to determine how that increase will impact its customers. Ringgold operates and maintains the sewer system for the city and unincorporated Catoosa County, and City Manager Dan Wright explained that there are three different rate structures.
The staff had not had time to finalize the impact of the rate increase on the different classes of customers, he told city councilors at their July 8 work session. He said he would bring back the discussion of a possible rate increase July 22.
He also noted that the letter Chattanooga sent to the city announcing the rate increase was dated June 7 and received after the council met in June, and that the increase went into effect July 1, before the council had a chance to review the increase.