Fulton County To Raise Water Rates, Public Hearing Tuesday

FULTON COUNTY, GA — Fulton County plans to raise water rates 5 percent per year to county-wide customers for the next three years to pay for necessary major water system improvements.

Residents can voice their opinions on that at a public hearing hosted by the Fulton County Department of Public Works related to its revised Capital Improvement Program for 2020 – 2026. In 2017, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved an initial three-year funding plan needed to construct the immediate projects the 2016 – 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Based on the recent financial analysis, to complete the revised 2020 – 2026 Capital Improvement Program, Fulton County must provide additional funding for the capital improvement projects.

Fulton County's water and sewer service area includes the cities of Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek.

Over the past three years, Fulton County Public Works staff has begun implementing projects in the CIP. These projects include the Camp Creek Clarifier Upgrade, the Big Creek - Cobb County Diversion project, and construction of the Little River expansion facility. Additionally, the design of the Big Creek facility has progressed and staff is estimating a total construction budget of approximately $300 million will be needed for the expansion.

Based on the work undertaken over the past three years and the need to address the Inflow and Infiltration into the sewer system under the Spill Mitigation Program, Public Works has updated the CIP to include the $40 million in funds for the Spill Mitigation Program and $300 million for the Big Creek expansion. The revised CIP was then reevaluated for total revenue needs in the spring and summer of 2019.

The Public Works Department will hold a public meeting to hear input from the community about the revised Capital Improvement Plan and proposed rate changes:

Tuesday, Sept. 24
Fulton County North Service Center
7741 Roswell Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30350

If approved by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the new rate structure would go into effect beginning on January 1, 2020.

For more information, call 404-612-7547 or email ray.wooten@fultoncountyga.gov.