Borough sewer fees on the rise

Rate increase to offset a rate hike by MUA.

By: Leon Tovey
   JAMESBURG — The Borough Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would increase sewer fees by $11 a year.
   Mayor Tony LaMantia said the increase is necessary to offset a rate hike by the Monroe Municipal Utilities Authority. Because the borough doesn’t have its own sewage treatment plant, it pays what’s known as a "flow rate" in exchange for discharging its sewage to Monroe.
   The mayor said the MUA raised the rates because it has experienced an increase in discharge fees from the Middlesex County Municipal Utilities Authority.
   "It’s a chain reaction," Mr. LaMantia said.
   That chain reaction has put the borough in a tight spot. Borough Financial Officer Denise Jawidzik said that at the current rate, the borough is not making enough money from its own sewer fees to cover any potential emergency costs or to save for later improvements.
   "We are right now at the break-even point," Ms. Jawidzik said. "We have no money put away for any kind of improvements."
   The current bill for a single-family, residential unit in the borough is $276 a year, according to the borough clerk’s office.
   The proposed increase drew criticism from Councilman Chris Maloney, the only member of the council to vote against the proposed ordinance.
   "I don’t know that it’s necessary," Mr. Maloney said. "We had an increase last year and we’re looking at a roughly 4 percent increase again this year?"
   The ordinance will receive a second reading at the council’s Feb. 9 meeting. The price increase will take effect on final passage of the ordinance.