The average homeowner water bill would rise $8 a year and sewer by $12.
AMHERST – Water and sewer users will likely see a 3 percent hike in each of their bills beginning July 1 with the Select Board slated to vote on the hike at its Jan. 23 meeting.
Town Manager John P. Musante recently outlined the proposal to the Select Board for consideration. Officials want to give residents adequate notice of the hikes.
According to the memo to the board, both the water and sewer rates would rise 10 cents per 100 cubic feet each. For water that means $3.40 from the current $3.30, and $3.45 from $3.35 per 100 cubic feet for sewer.
The average homeowner water bill would increase from $396 to $408 a year and the average sewer bill would increase from $402 to $414, he stated.
According the memo, the rates “remain substantially below” the state water and sewer bills of $470 for water and $638 for sewer. He noted that water and sewer customers in Hadley and Northampton pay more as well.
In Hadley users pay $455 and $552 for water and sewer and in Northampton the average homeowner pays $545 and $581 for water and sewer, according to Musante's memo.
The average homeowner cost is based on the use of 90,000 gallons of water per year.
The water budget is rising by 3 percent because of costs associated with recently settled public works contracts and the sewer department budget will rise by 6 percent because of the contract settlement costs and the purchase of a truck to clean sewers and storm drains. The new contracts call for a 4 percent hike over two fiscal years.
The truck purchase at $231,413 will be covered with money from the sew surplus.
The town raised sewer rates July 1 by 10 cents, but did not raise water rates.