Larger sewer fee
hike possible

City officials consider raising
a family’s bill about 35 percent

For years, city officials have said sewer fees have to go up to take care of an aging system.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration proposed a fee increase this year that would raise a family's bill nearly 25 percent. Now the administration is considering drafting a proposal to increase that bill by about 35 percent.

And yesterday, City Council members asked the administration to consider covering some $6 million in sewage project officials' salaries with sewer fees, which would boost the fees even more.

Environmental Services Director Eric Takamura told the City Council Budget Committee yesterday that the administration is preparing a bill that would increase the charge per 1,000 gallons of water usage to $1.71, from the administration's first proposed increase to $1.31. Currently the charge is $1.05.

Sewer fees are calculated using a base charge and per-1,000-gallon water usage charge.

Hannemann's current proposal calls for the base charge for single-family homes to be increased to $31.06 from $24.85, and for condominiums to $21.75 from $17.40.

Takamura said the administration is looking at capping the per-gallon charge at 18,000 gallons, meaning that no sewer fees would be charged for water usage beyond that level.

The cap would help households that use large amounts of water that probably does not go into the sewer system, Takamura said.

"They're watering their yards or they have small farms," he said. "They're paying for the water to the Board of Water Supply. There's nothing going back into our waste-water treatment plant."

But if the 18,000-gallon cap were implemented, it would mean a loss in revenue, which is why the Hannemann administration is now looking at increasing the per-1,000-gallon charge to $1.71 to make up the difference.

Council members have also asked Takamura to look into how much more of a fee increase would be needed to offset $6 million in salaries that the administration is proposing to pay with bonds.

Some Council members are concerned about the administration's plan to use borrowed money to pay for the salaries of employees who plan, design and manage sewer construction work, because the city will be stuck with millions of dollars in debt for several years.

"This has never been done in the history of the city," Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said. "I think that's an unconscionable move."

Administration officials have said they have no choice because there is not enough in the sewer fund to cover the salaries, and if they do not use the bonds, they will have to raise sewer fees further.