Water, sewer rate increases may be averted by residents

JUNEAU - The Juneau Assembly's Public Works and Facilities Committee backed modest increases to water and sewer utility rates in December, though City Manager Rob Swope offered an alternate plan Wednesday that will keep the rates flat.

The fees pay for maintenance and operation to the city's water and sewer systems. As the system has grown into more remote areas, new revenue hasn't kept pace with upkeep costs, prompting the increases. The monthly residential rates were expected to go from $56.01 to $58.25 for sewer service and $23.06 to $23.41 for water, an extra 3.3 percent collectively, followed by a similar increase scheduled for July.

Instead, Swope proposed taking $1.4 million of excess sales tax revenue to pay for major repairs already budgeted for sewer and water infrastructure, eliminating the need for the rate increases. Assembly members at a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday applauded the change.

Formal action on the change is pending.