City ponders rate hikes for water, waste
McCook city residents may see higher bills for water, sewer and trash collection that would take effect in October.
City staff is mulling over a 3 percent increase in water rates, a 5 percent increase in sewer and a $1.50 increase per month for solid waste collection, due to declining sales and as a way to beef up weak ending balances.
McCook City Manager Kurt Fritsch told the council at the first budget workshop Monday night, following the regular city council meeting, that the increases would be reviewed before the budget is adopted in September by Public Financial Management, the company that oversees the city's water budget.
Fritsch told the council that there have been no rate increases in water for two years but a $1.50 service charge was added in 2008. He reminded the council that an increase was projected in water rates in 2007-08 but was later deemed not needed and subsequently not implemented.
Rates for the sewer have not been increased for three years as well.
Per the city's auditor's suggestion, city staff is proposing a $1.50 increase for trash collection to keep up the ending balance, the second year for a $1.50 increase. A total increase of $3 was suggested and city staff broke this up into two years.