An increase to $2.76 per 100 cubic feet
By: Greg Forester
WEST WINDSOR Township Council adopted a resolution Monday setting the municipal sewer rate at $2.76 per 100 cubic feet of water in what represents a 1.7-percent increase over the 2006 figure.
The 2007 increase in the sewer rate was a much smaller increase than that of 2006, which handed residents an 8.4-percent increase over what they were paying the year before, as much of this year’s cost increases were offset by development and increased flow within the township.
"The sewer rate increase was caused by a variety of factors across the board, including salary and wage increases, utilities, postage and operation and maintenance at the Stony Brook Sewerage Authority," said Chief Financial Officer Joanna Louth. "Much of these increases were offset by new flow from new users."
Township officials said they were pleased with the low increase, especially after 2006’s much higher increase.
"The operational cost for Stony Brook goes up every year, but we are fortunate to have such a small increase this year," Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said.
West Windsor Township is among six municipalities that use the Stony Brook Sewerage Authority’s facilities, which include three treatment plants located in Princeton Township, Pennington, and Hopewell Township. Council members said they would like to have a presentation from Stony Brook officials detailing West Windsor’s relationship with the sewer authority and the future of the plants.
"We could schedule an agenda session on Stony Brook to give us an overall view of how our town fits into the system, in addition to more information about the financial obligations to maintain this," Councilwoman Heidi Kleinman said.
Council officials said they haven’t seen a presentation on the township’s involvement with the authority’s sewer systems in two years.
The Stony Brook Sewerage Authority’s facilities serve around 80,000 residents living in Mercer and Middlesex counties.