Officials say hike would be first in over 10 years
Staff Writer
Officials say hike would be first in over 10 years
MATAWAN — According to borough officials, a raise in rates may be necessary in order to keep the town from losing money and running a deficit on sewer services.
The Public Works Committee is in the process of conducting a study of sewer rates in town. The conclusion of that study is expected sometime this week, with the council expected to take up the issue of a rate hike in July.
Although the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority (BRSA), Union Beach, which does the processing for the borough, has increased its rate by 47 percent over the past decade, borough officials said it has been 10 years since Matawan has raised the rates its customers pay.
According to officials, if the borough does not take action to meet the increases of the regional authority, the town may actually begin losing money on sewer services.
"It is certainly appropriate and necessary that we study rate changes periodically to determine accurately and fairly if the borough is operating at a deficit as a result of the operating cost increases by the BRSA," said Borough Councilman Michael Cannon, who chairs the public works committee.
Over the past few years the BRSA rate for treatment per million gallons of sewage went from $2,259 in 1993 to the current level of $3,692.
In the past two years alone, BRSA rates have gone up 25 percent said officials.
The borough’s engineers, T&M Associates, Middletown, will conduct the study and determine what rate adjustment, if any, must be passed on to residents as a result of the increased operating costs.
Borough Engineer Robert Bucco said that the evaluation of the borough’s sewer rate structure is necessary to ensure that the "local utility has sufficient funds for operational and maintenance expenses as well as funds for required system improvements made necessary by an aging system."
According to Cannon, the borough is currently undertaking one of its most ambitious maintenance and replacement projects on the sewer system in borough history.
The work includes a $3 million project to replace a 100-year-old line that runs along Matawan Creek under Ravine Drive to a BRSA pumping station.
Additionally, the borough is in the process of upgrading three other pump stations around town and another line along Miriam Drive.
Officials said the improvements are necessary to ensure quality of life in the borough.
"These improvements are necessary for the future of Matawan. We cannot allow our infrastructure to deteriorate or the residents of Matawan will suffer the effects," said Mayor Robert Clifton.
"We are looking to make real improvements that will benefit Matawan today and for future generations," he added.