Franklin County BOC to Raise Water Rates Across the Board

Franklin County water customers may be paying more for water in the future.

The Franklin County Commissioners is expected to vote on a water rate increase at their next regular meeting.

County Manager Beth Thomas said in a work session Tuesday that the county hasn’t had a water rate increase in quite a while.

“The water rates were last adjusted in April 2011, so it’s been over five years since then,” Thomas said. “In the meantime our expenses have continued to increase. The City of Toccoa, where we purchase part of our water has had an annual increase based on CPI, which has gone up 10% over the past five years. The cost of producing water due to testing, supplies, manual labor and producing water from our wells has also increased”

So while the rates have remained the same, costs have gone up.

Thomas says the rate increase will affect the average residential customer as well as agricultural and industrial customers.

“Based on the April 2016 consumption, the residential users average change is between $4.31 and $4.40 per month,” Thomas said. “Increases by classification was maintained at under 18% or a range of 5% to 18% by category,” Thomas explained.

Commissioners are now studying the information.

A vote on the issue will be taken at the next regular County Commission meeting which is scheduled for Monday July 11th at 6pm at the Franklin County Justice center.

If approved the rate increase will take effect in September.