Geneva increases water, sewer bills after all

The Geneva city council increased rates for water and sewer service this week, reversing a position it took several weeks ago to keep the costs the same.

Alderman voted 5-3 in favor of increasing the water consumption charge 5 percent and the sewer fee 4.25 percent. Mayor Kevin Burns voted, making the total 6-3.

Aldermen Charles Brown, Dorothy Flanagan and Ralph Dantino voted against the increase. Alderman Richard Marks, who voted against the increase the last time, voted in favor this time.

Aldermen Ray Pawlak and Dawn Vogelsberg were absent.

Aldermen Monday again discussed how much money the city should hold in reserve in the water fund and how much to spend on capital projects. If there was no rate increase and the capital projects budget is approved as staff is suggesting, the reserve would drop to a little more than $1 million. The city council decided several years ago to have a reserve of at least $1.5 million. That covers about two months of expenses, including debt payments on the water treatment plant.

Brown again stated he didn’t believe that high of a reserve was necessary, given the history of expenditures out of the fund for unanticipated costs. He does not believe bond payments should be included in that reserve, only variable expenses, and that $1 million should be sufficient.

“It is something I think those people would want us to do,” Brown said, citing tough economic times.

Alderman Craig Maladra disagreed, saying the reserve should be high enough to cover the debt. “Predictable or not, we’ve got to pay them (the bonds),” Maladra said, even if a catastrophic event happens.

The city is selling less water this year than it anticipated.

The Environmental Protection Agency says that on average, a family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day. Over four weeks that translates to 972 cubic feet of water, or a charge of $37.22 presently. With the increase, the charge would be $39.08. Sewer for that same family would change from $13.99 a month to $14.59. The figures do not include taxes and meter charges, debt service charges and other flat, fixed charges.