STOCKTON: With rising costs, council eyes hikes for water, sewers

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   STOCKTON — About 15 borough residents attended the Feb. 11 Stockton Borough Council meeting to take part in a discussion about billing techniques for public water and sewer service in town, borough Clerk Michele Hovan said.
   The discussion was put on the agenda in response to requests from residents.
   ”Council was aware that people had said they had difficulty understanding how water and sewer service bills were calculated,” Ms. Hovan said.
   ”The methodology of calculating those bills was explained at the meeting. Council members and Mayor (Stephen) Giocondo took comments and answered questions, and generally the people who came walked away with a good understanding of the matter. It was a good use of time. Residents are encouraged to contact the Borough Council with any questions or concerns,” Ms. Hovan said.
   ”A key part of the discussion focused on the fact that there have been no increases in water and sewer rates in Stockton since 2008. The expectation is that there will be a need to raise the rates this year,” she noted.
   In May 2008, according to a Beacon account, sewer rates would be going up for the second time in six months, and water rates also were rising.
   Water customers had not seen an increase in three years and would see a 30 percent increase.
   Sewer customers, who got a rate hike the previous November, would see a 10 percent increase.
   The new rates would go into effect June 11, 2008.
   The increases would help the utilities meet rising costs.
   AT THE FEB. 11, 2013 meeting, said Clerk Hovan, “we did explain some of the uncontrollable costs that factor into the water and sewer utility budgets. A good example was the contractual terms with the Lambertville Municipal Utilities Authority for sewer (service). We do pay a percentage share by contract for their capital upgrades,” Ms. Hovan said Tuesday.
   ”The borough is in the process of analyzing its budgetary obligations for the short term and expects to seek a rate increase in 2013, possibly, to offset rising normal operating costs for the utilities. We expect to conclude that analysis in the coming weeks,” she added.
   Clerk Hovan said it’s too soon to estimate how much the rates might go up.
   ”The amount the increase could be is still unknown,” she said.
   ”We’ll be working on that as we get deeper into our budget planning for this year. But it looks as though, for the fiscal health of our public utilities, there will have to be an increase this year,” the clerk noted.
   While the borough handles providing water and sewer service, pickup of trash and recycling is handled by the firm, Raritan Valley Disposal.
   Electricity comes from Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L).