Rock Hill utility rates rise in July
Utility customers’ next bill will be slightly higher, after the Rock Hill City Council approved this week a rise in electric and sewer charges as part of next year’s city budget.
When the new fiscal year kicks in July 1, utility customers in Rock Hill will see an average increase of around $2.40 in their monthly bills.
This will be the 14th year in a row Rock Hill has raised its utility rates, although this year’s is lower than the most recent ones.
Last year, utility customers were handed a rate hike of almost three times that amount when the city set its budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year – a $6.80 increase for the average household. That comes on top of 6 percent increases for 2014 and 2015.
The council approved on Monday both increases unanimously, but split on another increase: whether to also increase Rock Hill’s stormwater rates by 13.6 percent, or 51 cents a month for the average customer.
The council ultimately approved the increase 4-3, with members John Black, Kevin Sutton and Ann Williamson voting against the increase. Sutton argued bonding for the stormwater projects listed for next year isn’t an effective long-term strategy for fixing water drainage issues across the city.
“We knew we had more projects than we could ever generate enough money for,” he said. He’d like Rock Hill to address stormwater the same way it has road-paving issues, where city budget commitments have grown steadily in recent years from $300,000 to $1.1 million.
“We need to do it in the general fund, so we’re not borrowing against future revenue,” Sutton said.
Five stormwater projects are being considered for 2017, including a $1.7 million project on Thornwell Avenue and $1 million for the intersection of Charlotte and North avenues and Marydale Lane; $785,00 for improvements in the Ebinport Road/Northgate Lane neighborhood; $480,000 to serve 36 homes off Miller Pond Road; and $605,000 for the Aldersgate neighborhood downstream of Mount Gallant Road.
Two more projects are scheduled to be funded in 2018, on Cavendale Drive and College Downs, at a price tag of $2 million each, to be funded by the same bond.
Black also said the list of projects that will need attention well past 2018 looks daunting.
“It’s hard to retro-fit it 100 years worth of development,” he said.
Even Mayor Doug Echols, who voted in favor of the increase, acknowledged the long-term nature of the problem.
“It’s a big marshmellow,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep at it.”
The total increase includes a hike of $1.93 per month in electric charges, or 1.5 percent, and a increase of 73 cents per month in wastewater charges ( 1.85 percent) for an average customer.
But at the same time, the city will give customers a reduction in their water bill to the tune of 77 cents per month – combined with the wastewater increase, that’s a drop of 4 cents in total on the water bill.
City financial officer Anne Harty said 78 percent of Rock Hill’s customers fall within or below the “average” calculation, which in water terms means the use of 6,000 gallons or fewer per month.
Bristow Marchant: 803-329-4062, @BristowatHome
How much is the hike?
The average Rock Hill home will only see an increase of about $2.40 each month when the new fiscal year begins July 1.
This is the 14th consecutive year the city has raised utility rates. This year’s increase is smaller than the more recent hikes, however.
Last year, utility customers were handed a $6.80 increase for the average household.
This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Rock Hill utility rates rise in July."