During the work session for the Demorest City Council, a new schedule of rates for water and sewer were discussed. According to Mayor Rick Austin, a study was completed in 2012 which compared Demorest’s rates with those of surrounding municipalities in order to get a grasp on where Demorest rates were in comparison. The study also included looking at the costs of the water and sewer services versus the revenue generated by the fees. The study was updated in August of 2014.
One of the reasons for the study was the 3.1 million dollar grant from GEFA (Georgia Environmental Finance Authority) which provided the necessary funds for the upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility and the upgrades to the water and sewer lines currently causing traffic backups along business 441. According to Austin, in order to qualify for those grants, the government requires the sewerage system must pay for itself. The expenses of operating the system must be covered by the revenues generated.
A second hearing is scheduled for May 5th at 7:00pm during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Council. Citizens are encouraged to attend and participate. All water and sewer rates including water meter and sewer taps are included in the proposal.
