MORGAN -- Although city residents' water and sewer rates are rising, garbage bills are headed down.
Water rates will increase about $1.60 each month. While overage rates will rise from $2.60 for each 1,000 gallons residents use over the 12,000 gallon limit, the base limit decreased from 14,000 gallons to that 12,000 gallon limit.
Sewer rates are on the rise by $2 a month. The changes will be effective on the July 1 billing cycle.
Morgan City Councilman Tony London said the increases are necessary to build up water and sewer contingency funds for future capital improvement projects. For example, the new rates will help pay for a sewer improvement project on 100 South and the northwest side of the city in order to ease pressure and a bottleneck in the sewer on Island Road.
"We've learned from sad experience that if we don't increase rates occasionally, our systems get depleted, and then we really have to raise rates," Mayor Jim Egbert said. "Going a little bit at a time is a good thing. We are protecting our systems."
Egbert said he doesn't want to be like another Wasatch Front city that recently doubled its rates.
"Their systems were in total disrepair and needed big help," Egbert said. "We need to prepare for the future so it doesn't hit us all at once."
Despite the water and sewer increase, garbage bills are decreasing. Because Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District recently paid off a bond, residents' garbage bills will be lower by a dollar. London said the $14 bill will be a lot better than the $19 bill residents were paying a few years ago.
"The good news is residents will see a decrease on their garbage bill," London said. "It is a little bit of help to offset the water and the sewer (increases)."
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