Municipal Utilities Authority Hikes Water Rates by 4 Percent
Water consumption charges will increase by $5.36 for the year
The Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority (LMUA) approved raising water consumption rates by 4 percent at its annual rate hike hearing.
“It was necessary because the number of vacant homes and a reduction of water sales has decreased revenue,” Executive Director Edward Woolf said.
The adjustment to current water service charges is a $5.36 increase for the year. Depending on the meter size, the majority of Lacey ratepayers will pay $34.76 to $48.65 per quarter in 2013.
The rate increase is necessary to maintain the LMUA’s system and to meet its bond requirements, Woolf said.
In addition to the vacant homes, there were 1,464 delinquent accounts, amounting to $1.162 million, a number that has increased over time, Woolf said. That is 10 percent of the LMUA’s budgeted revenue.
There will be no increase in sewer rates for 2013 as the LMUA has been able to reduce the amount of wastewater to the Ocean County Utilities Authority.
Over the last five years, the LMUA embarked on an aggressive campaign to repair leaks, limiting the amount of tidal and rain water entering the system, he said.
The LMUA provides a collection of wastewater, which is then discharged to the OCUA and treated at the Central Plant in Bayville, Richard Warren, Executive Director of the OCUA previously said. The OCUA bills customers, such as the LMUA, based on the actual number of gallons discharged to the system.
The OCUA also didn’t increase its rates this year, he said.
With a $4.7 million sewer operation budget, $2.9 million goes to the OCUA, Woolf said.
In the future, the LMUA hopes to use two new wells as a form of rate stabilization.
“The new wells are installed and ready to go,” Woolf said.
The LMUA is currently expanding its water treatment plant, which should be completed in August, he said.
Although contracts are not in the works yet, the LMUA is hoping to bring water to other towns with the wells’ excess capacity, he said. But its first priority is ensuring safe water for Lacey’s future.
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Proposed Adjustments to Current Water Service Charges |
||
|
Quarterly Service Charge Meter Size (inches) |
2012 Rate |
2013 Rate |
|
5/8 |
$33.42 |
$34.76 |
|
3/4 |
$36.75 |
$38.22 |
|
1 |
$46.78 |
$48.65 |
|
1 1/2 |
$60.15 |
$62.56 |
|
2 |
$96.86 |
$100.73 |
|
3 |
$367.46 |
$382.16 |
|
4 |
$471.03 |
$489.87 |
|
6 |
$701.53 |
$729.59 |
|
8 |
$968.79 |
$1,007.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 Rate |
2013 Rate |
|
Metered Water Consumption Charge |
$5.17 per 1,000 gallons |
$5.38 per 1,000 gallons |
DevilsFan609
8:47 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Second year in a row.
Frank living on a pension
8:57 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
This town is a joke
Chris Bauman
11:09 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Yeah that extra 20 cents per thousand gallons. what a joke right? You have nothing to complain about.
Robert Yates
9:09 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
“It was necessary because the number of vacant homes and a reduction of water sales has decreased revenue,” Executive Director Edward Woolf said.
When a private company losses business and hence revenue becasue of a poor economy, they lay people off. They do this because less customers means that less personnell is required to service those cusomters. But not with government; when revenue goes down, they just raise our rates or tax us more. Typical I guess!
Frank living on a pension
9:47 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
What about Boss Hog and da boys at the OCUA?
You know the OCUA with 13 republicon commissioners each getting 5 k a yr Free Medical Benefits and pension credits
William J Moss
10:03 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I went to the OCUA meetings a couple of times last year . Guess What ? Myself and Mrs Discenza were the only ones there . I went to the the LMUA meetings a couple of times last year . Guess what ? Myself and Mrs Discenza were the only one there So If you make a comment here 1 Question Do you really care If so go to the meetings and ask questions.
ed crowley
7:44 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
You can go to all the meetings you want they will not listen. We only need 5 Freeholders to run the county. The sewerage authority needs 13 guess its harder to move stuff downhill. Don't worry the public will still vote the same people in to power.
proud
10:32 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
If the reason for raising rates was due to less revenue from vacant houses and delinquent accounts, just wait until next year, when the economy tanks, and property owners walk away from the OFEMATax. It's too bad that our elected officials refuse to do anything about this . At some point ( like now?), the carrying costs of property ownership will become unsustainable. Getting rid of all the municipal utility authorities would be a giant step in returning N J to fiscal sensibility.
Frank living on a pension
11:53 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Frank your owners wont like that kind of talk
Resident of Lacey
10:38 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
OUCH!!! Just keep driving it deeper! As if we didn't already pay way too much in this community. something has to be done to get this in check.<br>
Dennis Haines
11:39 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Went to town hall to pay taxes yesterday and noticed sign that there is a 2.3% charge to use a credit card at the township window. Why....because they can.They always say running the town is like running a business...when a business screws its customers they go somewhere else.
ynot
12:46 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
The ex-mayor didn't pay 2.3%...that's because he didn't pay his taxes.
Resident of Lacey
9:37 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Dennis,
It is likely you will see this more often the regulation was changed this year that prevented it. The 2.3% is what the card processor takes so the town is simply passing the charge along.
Changes to Surcharging Fees in the United States
Beginning January 27, 2013, merchants in the United States and U.S. Territories will be permitted to impose a surcharge on consumers when they use a credit card.
http://usa.visa.com/personal/using_visa/checkout_fees/index.html?ep=v_sym_checkoutfees
Ann
11:08 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
The town does not get that 2.3%.the company servicing the credit cards do. In years past TD bank used to pay that fee when they were American owned. Now that they are Canadian owned they wanted to pass the fee onto the town. So the taxpayer who wants to use the credit card pays the convenience fee.
Resident of Lacey
8:01 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
Ann, the town gets .the 2.3% they add-on to offset the 2.3% proccessing fees charged by the banks. This used to be prohibited by the processors, however this year that regulation was changed. You'll likely see more businesses start to do this as well. I already have.
Frank living on a pension
11:56 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Bill and the Tc doled out raises to all the friends and family plan members
jabe0312
7:41 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
How about doing what every private business has to do....less work.....cut employees!!!
Resident of Lacey
9:39 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
That would be to easy since that office could run well with one person, dump the slugs with bad attitudes and get one quality worker.
JOHNNY Done it
8:20 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
agree with jabe0312 Less demand reduce operation expenses This should have been figured in (less demand ) because of the storm, Lack of planning does not constitute an emergency by the rate payers
Resident of Lacey
8:07 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
The MUA is not billing based on demand, they bill a minimum regardless of if you use it all or not a single drip. This practise should not be permitted however we have allowed it to go on unchecked so it is accepted. If you pulled up to the gas pump and were told there was a $100.00 charge regardless of if you filled-up or just topped off the weights and measures people would be all over that. This is not the case with MUA, use it or don't use it, you still pay for it.
John Sotelo Jr.
9:01 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
“It was necessary because the number of vacant homes and a reduction of water sales has decreased revenue,” Executive Director Edward Woolf said.
Humm....... so the reason we have to pay more for water is because they aren't selling as much due to all the vacant homes? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that less consumers = less need for your product, which should LOWER prices. Vacant homes are not using water, so why should everyone else in the town get penalized for that? GREED that's why. I thought that Republicans were for shrinking government and lowering taxes?. Keep feeding the machine so all those in power can reward their own at the expense of screwing the tax payers. I'm not sure how much more of this NJ dry screwing I can take...........
Piney in Forked River
7:48 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
Im surprised they didn't blame it on the rise in cost at the OCUA although im sure that might be coming as well.
You all know about the OCUA
13 Commissioners 5K a yr FREE Medical Benefits and pension credits
proud
11:12 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Idea! How about a Public Water Director at half the salary?
proud
9:43 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
["There will be no increase in sewer rates for 2013 as the LMUA has been able to reduce the amount of wastewater to the Ocean County Utilities"]
The rates for water increased because of revenues shortfalls,but the sewer rates remained the same even thoughit cost the "Authority" LESS. If increases are passed along to the ratepayer why aren't savings as well. Here's why...:
{Authority.WOOLF EDWARD Ocean LACEY MUNICIPAL UTIL AUTHORITY $101,183 1 $101,183 Public Employees Retirement System }
And, that reflects 2011 data. Has there been a raise? Health benefits go up? O T ? Any steps?
Does the authority and the township recall the savings in the Recreation Department when the Director changed? Take a que,folks
William J Moss
10:50 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Can some one tell me if they think they are being ripped off ? In reading the above I see 1,464 Delinquent Accounts . 1.162 million loss or revenue. comes along a 4 % increase to off set revenue Now comes a tax sale and the LMUA receives 2 checks 1 for $413.717.11 @1 for $300.790.17 from tax sales In Feb 2013. that totals to $714.507.28 .Now they have a loss of $447.498 00 Not 1.162 million Why the 4% increase in rates which should be way under 2% ( Bend over)