EAST BRUNSWICK —East Brunswick will pay more for water in September, pending the approval of the Board of Public Utilities, due to a rate increase by the Middlesex Water Company.
“What you are agreeing to tonight is to pass on an increase of 0.8 percent, which is the lowest percentage increase for any of the participating municipalities that are affected by this rate change,” Business Administrator James White told the Township Council at the June 13 meeting.
The increase will mean the township will pay $3,712,940 for 2 billion gallons of water a year, up around $29,000 from the $3,683,477 the township is currently paying.
The change in the water rate, according to White, will not affect taxpayers.
“We haven’t raised our rates, I honestly can’t remember the last time we’ve raised our rates,” said White.
“I do believe that once again it’s our township employees, especially in this case [head of the financial department] Lou Neely, who have been our watchdog on the water rates,” said Councilwoman Camille Clark.
She congratulated those responsible for making sure the township secures the lowest rate increase possible.
“There won’t be a ripple in the water,” said Clark about the increase not being passed on to the taxpayer.
According to Neely, originally the Middlesex Water Company had called for an increase of 5 percent in the township water rate.
“Whenever there is a proposed rate increase we always file our motions objecting to the amount that they want,” said White at the council meeting.
According to Neely, the reason the rate was originally slated to rise five percent is because Middlesex Water Company over- estimated the cost of service for the township.
According to White, the increase will not mean that taxes in the town will be raised, as the increase will be absorbed by the current utility fund.
According to Neely, the fund amounts to $8 million and will cover the slight increase.
Council members, with the exception of Councilman James Wendell who was absent, agreed to the rate change in a unanimous vote.
Other towns in the area will pay a relatively higher rate. According to Neely, Old Bridge is slated to have an increase of 1 percent, Manalapan and Marlboro would increase by 3.3 percent and Rahway by 2 per cent.