SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Local sewer rates to rise 10 percent

by Davy James, Staff Writer
   The Township Council passed an ordinance Tuesday that will increase water and sewer rates for township property owners by about 10 percent.
   Mayor Frank Gambatese said the rate increase was necessary due to the decrease in revenue and the increase from the treatment plants, which left the council with no other options.
   ”We have no choice in this matter,” he said during the meeting. “When costs go up and you don’t have the revenue to meet the cost then we have to raise the rates.”
   Under the new rates, the average homeowner will pay $806.40 a year, an increase of $76.36 from last year, in order to cover rate increases.
   ”We’ve had a slowdown in connection fees as a result of the slowdown in the economy,” said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz. “There’s just not as many new businesses and new residents coming in to offset the increases in fees.”
   Mr. Schmalz said the increase is necessary to cover costs from the Stony Brook and Middlesex County treatment plants.
   The township must pay $545,000 more in 2009 to the two treatment facilities. Last year, the township paid approximately $7.1 million to the two facilities.