Cobb to increase water and sewer rates through 2029 Archives

Cobb to increase water and sewer rates through 2029

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to raise water and sewer rates for each of the next five years.

Starting next year, residential and commercial customers will pay an additional 3.5 percent for water and sewer services each year through 2029, according to estimates presented by the Cobb County Water System at Tuesday’s meeting.

Judy Jones, the water system’s director, said the additional revenues are necessary due to rising costs for purchasing water wholesale and for wastewater treatment plant construction projects.

(More details of water, sewer and stormwater charges can be found by clicking here.)

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, the only vote against, noted that while the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority is charging Cobb higher rates for water, “I cannot support this” because the county continues to transfer water revenues to its general fund budget for other expenses.

She has consistently 0pposed rising rates because of the transfer practice. Cobb, which topped out at a 10 percent transfer several years ago, now takes five percent of annual water revenues as it attempts to reduce that figure by a percent each year.

According to Jones’ presentation, the average increase for customers will be $1.90 a month, or a 2.8 percent increase.

She said the average residential customer in Cobb uses 5,000 gallons of water a month and is charged $67.50 for water, sewer and stormwater.

When asked to explain the multi-year charges, Jones said it helps for long-term planning of services and maintenance.

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