Norris eyes $20 sewer hike next year to help fund state-mandated upgrades
Although nothing has yet been formally proposed, the city of Norris is looking at a plan to raise the base rate for residential sewer service by $20 a month, possibly in $5 increments spread out over a year to help pay for state-mandated system improvements.
That would raise the base sewer rate to $75.01 a month for the first 2,000 gallons, with usage over 2,000 gallons billed in addition to the base rate, City Manager Adam Ledford said.
Sewer charges are added to the base water bill, which is now $26.96 a month. Norris residents also pay a $15 trash-collection fee and a $3 stormwater fee added to each month’s utility bill.
Altogether, residents who have water and sewer service already pay a monthly minimum utility bill of $102.60. Individual bill totals would vary, however, for households that exceed the 2,000-gallon minimum each month, Ledford said.
Norris has about 700 water customers, but only about 570 also have sewer service, and only those would be charged the higher sewer rates.
During its July 21 meeting, the Norris Water Commission – whose members also are the five City Council members -- discussed raising the sewer rates by the $5 increments every three months until the $20 figure is achieved.
