Water, sewer, stormwater rate hikes would generate about $3.3 million

Ben Conley, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
·2 min read

Jul. 18—MORGANTOWN — If passed next month by Morgantown City Council, the rate increases proposed by the Morgantown Utility Board would generate just over $3.3 million annually.

During its June meeting, the MUB Board of Directors approved increases of 13 % for water customers, 12 % for sewer customers and 18 % for stormwater utility customers as part of the public utility's 2022 budget.

According to data provided by MUB, the water increase will impact 26, 771 customers, generating an expected $1, 569, 389 ; sewer rate increases will impact 18, 118 customers for an expected bump of $1, 458, 258 ; and 15, 442 customers will pay higher stormwater rates, raising an additional $333, 656.

While the water and sewer rates, last raised in 2016, are based on usage, the monthly stormwater fees of $5.88 for residential customers and $2.35 per 1, 000 feet of impervious ground for businesses have been in place since 2012.

Morgantown City Council adopted an ordinance granting stormwater management authority to MUB in 2002 in order to remain in compliance with federal standards aimed at protecting "watercourses, water bodies, groundwater and wetlands in a manner pursuant to and consistent with the Clean Water Act."

MUB Spokesman Chris Dale said along with the city of Morgantown, MUB's stormwater utility coverage area "encompasses private stormwater jurisdictional areas such as West Virginia University properties, Star City, the Kennedy Center and the West Virginia Department of Highways."

A map of the utility's coverage area can be viewed at dropbox.com /s /blpictqzx25bndh /MUB_ MS4.pdf ?dl =0.

For customers facing all three increases, they represent a jump of $13.13 for the average bimonthly bill, based on 6, 400 gallons of consumption. Using those numbers, that's a $4.29 bump for water, $6.72 for sewer and $2.12 for stormwater. Halve those numbers for the average monthly bill.

MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the rate raises are due to a number of factors, including general inflation and the loss of one of the utility's largest customers, Viatris (Mylan), at the end of the month.

What the increases are not expected to remedy, McNulty said, are revenue losses caused by COVID-19. He noted the raises were already slated to come up for consideration in 2020, but were pushed back due to the pandemic.

The utility is meeting with city and county officials regarding specific projects that would be eligible for American Rescue Plan dollars, for which water, sewer and broadband projects have been identified as a priority, nationally.

The combined anticipated allotments for Morgantown and Monongalia County represent more than $30 million in rescue plan dollars.

McNulty, Assistant General Manager Jim Fetty and Chief Engineer Ken Hacker sat with the county commission on July 7 for a meeting held in executive session.

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