The action was merely a formality as the board, on Sept. 9, 2008, approved a 26 percent increase for water and 7 percent increase for sewer, with subsequent annual increases of 8 percent for water and 4 percent for sewer through 2012. As part of that, county code requires the board to take official action each year for the annual increases, which is what happened Tuesday.
The annual increase will go into effect Jan. 1. Cobb County Water System customers who use 7,000 gallons of water per month will see their bills increase from $21.77 to $23.53 for water and increase from $34.30 to $35.70 for sewer, county spokesman Robert Quigley said. That would be a total increase of $3.16. The county's base rate of $7 will not change.
Quigley said the increases are used to fund system improvements, such as the South Cobb Tunnel Project, and to cover increases set by the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, the county's wholesale water provider.
"Unlike some other counties, our water system is self-funded through rates, not property taxes," Quigley said. "And we still have some of the lowest costs in the metro Atlanta area."
Quigley said Cobb has the second lowest water rates of metro utilities of similar size, with only DeKalb County charging residents less for water and sewer.
The board also voted 4-0 to approve a $1.4 million contract for the construction of Fire Station 30. The fire station, which is one of the oldest in the county, was closed in the early 1990s after the widening of Austell Road took up a large portion of the station's driveway, Quigley said. The existing building will be demolished and a new building will be built at a new site, behind Milford Elementary School, at the corridor of Windy Hill and Macland roads.
Quigley said county officials hope to open the new fire station shortly after the road expansion project at the Windy Hill and Macland corridor is completed. The fire station will not operate while road construction occurs.
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Were you not paying attention? This vote was merely a formality. The vote originally took place in September of '08 and Ms Goreham was in attendance and participated in the ballot. She continues to work hard and does a fine job for our county.
And now you make go back to sleep. We'll wake you up when class is over.
:-)
Mr Property Owner, please read and understand the article and do some homework before whining and rushing off to call your County Commissioners.
#1 - Cobb County does NOT sell its own water to its customers. It's purchased from Cobb Marietta Water Authority. When CMWA raises the cost of its product, increases have to be passed along to the consumer. That's just the way it is. It's no different than if the shirt you bought last year is costlier this year because the manufacturer incurred higher costs in the materials to make it.
#2 - Cobb County is growing. More people = more sewage = increased sewer treatment and additional infrastructure. Cobb County Water System collects no tax from its customers and those costs must be paid from revenues. Replacing water mains is expensive. Installing sewer extensions isn't cheap either.
#3 - The cost of Cobb County water and sewer remains less than almost all of our neighboring counties and municipalities. In addition, the cost to develop in Cobb County remains surprisingly reasonable. Don't believe me? Try buying a water meter for a new shopping center somewhere like Douglas or Gwinnet and compare your cost to the same meter purchased in Cobb.
#4 - Cobb County's water quality is second to none.
I don't mind paying a few dollars more for top-notch service and an excellent product. The increase in my water bill won't even amount to the cost of the bottled water I'd have to buy if I lived elsewhere.
Many thanks to the commissioners the county manager and especially to CCWS for continuing to bring us the best.
LEE (770) 528-3318 WOODY 770) 528-3312
We have 3 lights on our street and 14 houses. That's $49 a month. Does it really cost that much to run 3 lights?
And how about the $1.25 a month for 911 services. I'm not sure how many people have hard line phone service in Cobb County, but lets say five hundred thousand. That equals $625,000 A MONTH! Does it really cost that much to provide 911 service? Or the funds being used for purposes other than what they are collected for?