Henderson water rates set to go up

By Erin Dostal

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Henderson’s water rates will increase for each of the next two years, starting Jan. 1, after the City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday for a rate hike.

The increase for a single-family residence in 2010 will be about $2 per month for water service charges. The monthly sewer charge increase should be about 88 cents per home.

Increases for 2011 will be similar, with a $2 increase on water service charges, and a 91-cent increase in sewer charges.

Next year, a single-family residence can expect to pay about $54.82 per month for its water bill. For 2011, that will go up to about $57.72 a month.

The increase was approved by four of the five Henderson City Council members at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Kathleen Boutin, the city’s councilwoman in Ward III, voted against the increase, citing difficult economic times.

“I couldn’t in good conscience raise the rates,” she said. “A good portion of my constituents live in low-income areas.”

This is the first time water rates have increased since 2006, said Dennis Porter, Director of the Utility Services Department for Henderson. He said the increase is necessary to maintain the quality of services and quality of water the department supplies to Henderson.

Operating costs, including those for maintenance materials and treatment chemicals, are out of the department’s control, he said.

Councilwoman Debra March of Ward II said the increase was necessary. “If we want to continue to have water flowing, we have to be willing to pay for it,” she said.

The Utility Services Department serves about 85,000 accounts in Henderson.