Salem plans to hike some water rates

October 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

SALEM

Some people who get water from Salem but live outside the city will pay more starting Jan. 1.

Don Weingart, city utilities superintendent, said Thursday the department’s revenue is dropping.

The city provides water to Perry, Salem, Center and Butler townships as well as Leetonia.

Those who live outside the city already pay a 50 percent surcharge for water.

The average current rate for city residents is about $10.84 for a couple that uses about 600 cubic feet of water a month. The department bills based on 100 cubic feet of water.

Currently, people outside the city pay $13.55 a month. Under the new rate, the cost will be $16.25 a month, an increase of $2.32.

Weingart said it is difficult to determine how much customers will use. He added that those who are more affluent will use more water while others will use less water.

The minimum usage now is 200 cubic feet that costs $5.94 per month. The new minimum usage will be $7.13 a month.

Weingart said that the city’s utilities commission wanted to raise income because the commission’s revenue is dropping.

In 2002, the commission had $4.5 million in reserves. As of September, the utilities department had $3.8 million in reserve.

Weingart said that may sound good, but it costs the utilities department $345,000 to paint one of its water towers.