Knox residents won’t see quite as big of a spike in their sewer bills, following action by the city council Tuesday. Rate hikes were set to take effect this month, as the second phase of an increase begun last year. But during Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to spread out the remaining increase over the next four years.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told council members that after running in the red for several months last year, the budget has once again started to break even. “I think we’re in a good enough shape financially, by running the numbers, that we should spread that out over four years,” he said.
The amendment to the rate ordinance means the minimum bill for many residential customers will only go up $1.87 in February, compared to $7.48. Sewer customers without a water meter will see their bill increase by $2.72, rather than $10.88.
Mayor Dennis Estok also supported the change, noting the number of senior citizens and people on fixed incomes.
The only opposition came from council member Tim Manns, not because he was against spreading out the increase, but because he was against any increase at all. “Well, I was against this when it was voted in to begin with,” he said. “I don’t know about you guys, but my water bill’s about $130 a month. I’d feel a lot better about paying that if somebody held a gun to my head up here, when I came up here to pay it.”
Other council members tried explaining that the amended rate ordinance would effectively lower residents’ bills for the near future, but Manns voted against it anyway.
