DeKalb County leaders vote to hike water and sewer rates

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - DeKalb County commissioners voted around 4 p.m. Tuesday on a measure that could raise water and sewer rates for residents.

The DeKalb County Commission, in a 5-2 vote, decided to move forward on a much-discussed plan at Tuesday's regular meeting.

What we know:

After several proposals, the current plan on the table suggests a 10% annual rate increase over the next 10 years. For a resident currently paying $70 per month, the hike would raise their bill to $76 this year, $84 in 2026, and more than $112 by 2029. That would cover bonds of up to $450 million to finance the massive project.

County commissioners have been debating water and sewer rate hikes for several months, previously considering different options, including:

• A 6% annual increase over three years
• An 8% annual increase over 10 years (proposed by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee)
• A 7% annual increase at one point

In addition to the rate hike, the commission is also considering a resolution to protect senior citizens, disabled individuals, and low-income residents from the financial burden of the increase. One commissioner has also proposed the creation of an Office of Customer Advocacy to assist affected residents.

The funds from the rate hikes are earmarked for renovating the Scott Candler Water Treatment Facility and other infrastructure projects. However, not all residents support the proposal, expressing concerns about the financial burden.

The county has hosted multiple town halls about the issue in February.

What they're saying:

"The future of DeKalb County depends on adequate infrastructure investments, and today, the Board of Commissioners approved the largest commitment in our history to ensure clean, reliable water and sewer services for generations to come," said CEO Cochran-Johnson. "No one likes rate increases, but the cost of inaction is far greater. Our economic future, our ability to attract businesses, and the well-being of every resident depend on these upgrades."

Supporters say the move will strengthen the county's aging infrastructure that has been under federal scrutiny. Water main breaks are the clear sign,

Water and sewer improvements cannot be put off much longer.

Plus, DeKalb County is under a federal consent decree to fix its aging water and sewer infrastructure.

Some want to know what's going on with the money the county already has.

DeKalb Water Watch , a coalition of resident activists, is supporting an income based plan to help low income households. "Where households at 200% or below the federal poverty guidelines," said Katherine Maddox withDekalb Water Watch. "They will not be paying above 3% of their income towards water."

Dig deeper:

Michelle Long Spears and Nicole Massiah were the dissenting voices on the board.