Lamar debates 12% water rate hike
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Lamar Town Council met June 13 and held first reading for the 2016/17 fiscal year budget, which may include a proposed 12-percent rate hike for water and sewer customers.
Currently, Lamar charges flat sewer rates of $12.35 (inside) and $24.70 (outside) and water rates of $8.23 for 1,000 gallons (residential inside) and $14.81 for 1,000 gallons (residential outside). Apartment water rates are currently $14.81 for 1,000 gallons.
The 12-percent proposed rate increase caused some members of council to immediately voice objections.
“I’m going to be totally opposed to the rate increase on water,” said council member Mike Lloyd, noting that while an increase is needed, he could not vote for one this drastic.
Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Thomas responded that since Lamar fell so far behind state standards for water and sewer rates – going from 1989 to 2008 without a single increase – the town has been forced to make incremental bumps nearly every year since and still has a lot of ground to make up before Lamar can qualify for grant money to make necessary system upgrades.
“We’re not sure we’re going to get any grant money to get some of those things done. The only thing we can really depend on is our citizens paying their water bill,” said council member Angele White-Bradley.
“We have stated as council that we would do a twelve percent hike. I know that this is not a hike that we all would want, but at this time we really have to look at setting ourselves up for getting some things done,” said Thomas.
The town is currently purchasing water from the Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority due to DHEC closing town wells after traces of radium were detected. Last month, Lamar purchased 3.6 million gallons, and as of June 13 the town had purchased 1.4 million gallons.
The 2016/17 Water and Sewer Departmental budget projects revenues of $295,355 and expenditures (including projected water purchases of $287,472, meaning the town might just exceed the break-even mark with only $7,883 in yields.
Town income is expected to total $698,968 from a variety of revenue sources, including a combination of property and personal taxes ($34,200), local option sales tax ($112,137), and franchise fees from vendors like Duke Energy ($69,000).
Projected expenditures include $287,472 for Water and Sewer and $239,593 for the Lamar Police Department. The police budget is offset by $4,500 in projected revenue.
Council ultimately agreed to pass first reading of the budget and settle the issue of the water and sewer rate hike before final reading, due by the end of June. The new budget goes into effect July 1.