Oconee County Utility Department Budget Does Not Include Water And Sewer Rate Increases--For Now

Oconee County water and sewer customers likely will get a reprieve, at least temporarily, from the annual water and sewer rate increases of recent years.

Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie told the Board of Commissioners at a budget hearing last week that he is not asking for a rate increase as part of his budget request.

Haynie did say, however, that he would be coming back before the commissioners in several months with results of the rate and fee study underway, and the commissioners could revisit the possibility of rate increases at that time.

The Board of Commissioners last year approved water and sewer rate increases of 3 percent, the eighth year in a row of increases in water rates and the seventh year in a row for increases in the rates for sewer customers.

For more on the story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Haynie at budget hearings.