Water and sewer rates to increase
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission has approved a 3.5% increase in water and sewer rates for the next fiscal year budget, which begins July 1, 2021.
Local water and sewer rates have historically ranked second lowest among peer utilities in the state and rates for consumption have not increased since July 1, 2018. The new rates will amount to a monthly increase of $1.08 for light users and $1.78 for average customers. There is no increase in solid waste disposal fees at landfills and yard waste facilities. No tax revenue is used to fund Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities services.
The rate increase will help pay for needed updates to treatment facilities and the water and sewer system that were put off because of the pandemic, said Courtney Driver, the utilities director. “It is crucial to maintain and update our critical infrastructure to protect both the public and the environment,” Driver said. “Proactively safeguarding public health is our top priority and we will continue to maintain the highest level of service possible.”
The water and wastewater operations budget for next year is $98.9 million. This is a 6.6% increase from the current fiscal budget and primarily due to a $4.3 million increase in debt service payments for an expected revenue bond issuance. The capital improvement budget for water and wastewater is $73.8 million and includes funding for sixteen continuing projects, ongoing work on the collection system improvement program, and fully funding the modernization of the R.W. Neilson Water Treatment Plant.
Rates will remain unchanged at both Hanes Mill Road and Old Salisbury Road landfills, as well as the Forum 52 and Overdale yard waste facilities. The solid waste operations budget increases 2.4% and is set at $11.8 million. The budget for capital improvements in the solid waste division is $449,000 for projects at Hanes Mill Road Landfill. For more information, call City Link 311 or 336-727-8000. Subscribe to Alert Center and News Flash for Utilities at cityofws.org/notifyme.
