Ohio suit over sewer district fee going to trial
CLEVELAND (AP) — A lawsuit over a proposed storm-water management fee in northeast Ohio is going to trial after settlement talks broke off between a sewer district and about two dozen communities.
The Plain Dealer reports that the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the communities in Cuyahoga and Summit counties couldn’t agree on the fee. The district’s proposal would amount to about $57 a year for the average homeowner, on top of double-digit rate increases for water and sewer services.
The trial is scheduled for Oct. 31 in Cleveland.
The newspaper reports that the trial will focus on whether the district can charge the fee. Some mayors argue it is an unvoted tax.
Sewer officials say it would produce about $38 million annually for projects.