Township sewer fees to increase for first time in four years

Reduction in water use cited for 7.3-percent hike.

By: Rachel Silverman
   For the first time in four years, Princeton Township Committee on Monday raised the annual sewer charges for residents connected to the sewer system, bringing the yearly fee up 38 cents to $5.58 per 100 cubic feet, an increase of 7.3 percent.
   Ironically, the rate hike is a result of township residents being more environmentally conscious.
   "People are using less water, people are conserving more," township Financial Officer Kathy Shaddow explained at Monday night’s Township Committee meeting. "There is less usage than we anticipated."
   Ms. Shaddow later explained how the new fees will affect township residents, as compared to the rates they paid last year.
   According to Ms. Shaddow, the average homeowner used 9,100 cubic feet of water last year — which, at a rate of $5.20 per 100 cubic feet of water usage, meant a total sewer service charge of $473.20. This year, however, the average amount of water usage has decreased to 8,300 cubic feet of water — which, at the newly minted rate of $5.58, means the average homeowner will be paying a bill of $463.14.
   Although this price shift may look like a decrease in sewer costs to the homeowner, Ms. Shaddow pointed out that these numbers are calculated based on the fact that the average homeowner has been using less water this year than last.
   "It’s proportional to how much you use," she said. "So if you use the same amount from this year to last year, your bill will be higher."
   Keeping on that watery theme, the committee introduced a $6.7 million ordinance to rehabilitate the township’s sewer system and a $44,550 ordinance to make sewer lateral repairs along Littlebrook Road and Tyson Lane.
   According to Sewer Operating Committee Project Manager Bob Hough, the $6.7 million ordinance is part of an ongoing, large-scale rehabilitation effort to improve the sewers throughout both Princeton Borough and the township. A copycat $6.7 million ordinance was introduced Tuesday by the Borough Council and is scheduled to come up for a vote June 14.
   "There are areas of the system that do require repair," Mr. Hough said Wednesday. "Where we do the work will depend on where we determine the need is and how severe the areas are."
   Mr. Hough added that the combined project of about $13 million, which is already under way and will continue for at least six more years, will be financed through low-interest loans from the state.
   Monday night’s session also included approval of an ordinance to expand the township’s fire-inspection program.
   This ordinance, which aims to increase and standardize the inspection process, will make non-life hazard use facilities, such as office buildings, printing plants, municipal buildings and doctors’ offices, subject to inspection. The program intends to be self-sustaining by charging inspection fees and penalty fees for those who fail to register, or do so past deadline.
   The committee introduced a capital improvement ordinance at the meeting, which allocates $3.1 million to various municipal services and departments. Among the proposed projects, $945,942 would go to the road department, which will undertake reconstruction of various streets and sidewalks in the township. Another $954,785 would go to the Sewer Operating Committee for rehabilitating sewer pipes and manholes, purchasing maintenance equipment and project studies.
   In addition, the committee voted to introduce an ordinance that would establish a mutual aid agreement for emergency police services in Mercer County. The ordinance aims to promote the collaboration of services throughout the county’s 13 municipalities.
   Finally, the committee introduced a $44,000 ordinance to construct additional sidewalks on Springdale Road.
   "We’re looking for the work to be completed this summer and early in the fall this year," Township Engineer Bob Kiser said at the meeting.
   Public hearings on all the introduced ordinances are scheduled for June 27.