SBY water, sewer rates to increase by 6%: What you need to know
SALISBURY, Md. – If you live in Salisbury, and depend on the city for water and sewer service, you can expect to be paying more pretty soon. Monday night, Salisbury City Council passed an ordinance to raise those rates by 6%.
Staying In The Black
However, city officials say there is a good reason for the increase. Director of Waterworks for the City of Salisbury, Cori Cameron says that is due in part to supply chain issues, rising product prices, and a tight city budget.
“We raised rates so we don’t burden citizens with a debt hole. We don’t want to have to borrow money and go into debt. So, we have to raise the rates for our needs and to keep on operating our plants,” said Cameron. “This last year has been a hard hit with all of the supply chain issues, the rising costs. Some [treatment] chemicals have practically doubled in price.”
Because of that, Cameron says the city is looking to avoid passing on any potential debt to its citizens. “Our budget this year is as tight as it has been in forever. With this 6% increase, that is really on the low side,” she said.
Looking Ahead
City of Salisbury officials says this effort is being made ahead of an expected Water-Sewer Fund Debt Service spike in 2026. A previous study recommended a 19.8% increase in rates between Fiscal Years 2019 to 2022. Back in 2019, Salisbury increased rates by 5%, and passed on any increases in 2020.
The new rates are included in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, meaning you likely will not see an immediate bump in price. The increase could come later this summer, according to Cameron.
Looking ahead, Cameron says Waterworks is looking forward to federal infrastructure money coming down the line. She says it could bolster the city’s ability to improve water and sewer infrastructure. “There’s a lot of big projects coming in our CIP. But, we’re going to try and reach for some of that infrastructure money coming down the road for us,” said Cameron. “There’s going to be a lot of money for water and sewer in that, and try to keep that burden off of our customers, as well.”
