Water and sewer customers in Oconee County will pay about 3 percent more in fees starting July 1 if the Board of Commissioners approves the budget request presented by Utility Department Director Chris Thomas earlier this month.
The water rate increase would be the seventh in as many years for the county, and the sewer rate increase would be the sixth in six years.
Thomas told the Board the rate increases were the minimum he could ask for and feels “barely comfortable” that he can meet expenses if they are approved.
Those expenses include an increase of 8.5 percent in debt service, including a more than doubling of debt payments for the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir now under construction in Walton County.
For more, visit Oconee County Observations.
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