Franklin Co. Looks At Water Rate Hike

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

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

The Franklin County Commission will be voting on a water rate increase for the county at its meeting on July 11.

Franklin County Manager Beth Thomas says 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.

Franklin County Commissioners are now studying the information.

A vote on the issue will be taken at the next regular Franklin County Commission meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, July 11 at 6 p.m. at the Franklin County Justice Center.

If approved, the rate increase will take effect in September.