GREENVILLE Sewer-use bills to drop slightly

A larger-than-anticipated water rate increase resulted in a windfall in sewer fee receipts.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Borough residents will save a few dollars on their bimonthly sewer bills beginning in June.
Borough council introduced an ordinance Tuesday to clear the way for the reduction.
Greenville Municipal Authority raised water rates 15 percent effective March 1, and borough sewer rates are tied directly to water usage.
The borough bills on a consumption ratio of 74 percent, which means that a water bill of $10 would result in a sewer bill of $7.40.
What caused this: The borough had anticipated a 5 percent water rate increase this year, so the 15 percent increase that was implemented created a windfall in sewer fee revenue, said Peter Nicoloff, borough manager.
Council wants to give that money back to the residents and so will reduce its consumption ratio from 74 percent to 68 percent under terms of the new ordinance, he said.
The water and sewage accounts are sent as joint bills on a bimonthly basis, he said, noting the average residential bill for a four-member family is $100 for that period.
He had no estimate on the savings people will realize from the sewer rate reduction but said it will be only a few dollars.
Sister city: In other business, council passed a resolution inviting the city of Smolenice in the Slovak Republic to become Greenville's sister city.
Smolenice is the birthplace of Stefan Banic, who is credited with having invented the first working parachute while living in Greenville.
Nicoloff said state Sen. Robert Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, asked that the invitation be extended to Smolenice and that officials in that European city are interested.
The Greenville area honors Banic each year with a parachute jumping program at the Greenville Municipal Airport.