The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission recently approved water and sewer rate hikes beginning in July. The move comes following an independent rate study that showed local water and sewer has historically rated among the lowest in the state among peer utilities, and it will remain so. The recommendation is for a 7% increase for next fiscal year, or roughly $3 and a half dollars per month for the average customer.
The Utilities news release states that tax revenue is not used to fund Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities services. The department is self-sustained by user fees, and Public Information Officer Gale Ketteler says they’ve had to be raised for a number of reasons.
"Big increases have come across in supplies and services, particularly in the chemicals that we purchase year-round to treat water and wastewater," says Ketteler. "We can’t do our services without these supplies. And inflation has increased almost $4 million, and a full third of that increase is due to increased costs in chemicals."
Ketteler says the other two-thirds are due to increases across the board due to inflation. The new rate increase will help offset some of those operational costs and allow for necessary capital improvements including the maintenance of key infrastructure needs.