West Orange Jacks Up Sewer Rates For 2016: Mayor Offers Explanation

West Orange, NJ – Does your 2016 sewer bill stink, West Orange?

Municipal sewer rates have increased to $350 this year, a $100 hike for residents from 2015. Many homeowners expressed surprise at the rate change via social media.

“Completely floored to receive this bill,” one resident wrote on the municipal Facebook page.

According to a statement from Mayor Robert Parisi, the sewer rate increase was long overdue.

“The township worked for many years to keep the sewer costs low, but it was kept artificially low by absorbing the difference in cost in the general operating budget,” Parisi stated. “However, as the related costs have continued to rise... it is impossible for the township to absorb the difference in the general operating budget, especially with general operating expenses such as insurance and salaries increasing at the same time.”

Parisi added that even with the increase to $350, the township will still have to take a $20,000 hit to its general operating budget, a “more manageable amount to absorb.”

In 2016, the full operation and maintenance of the municipal sewer system will cost West Orange $7.1 million, Parisi stated.

But Parisi opined that even though sewer costs have increased significantly over the last several years, the current cost is more accurately reflective of the actual costs of operating and maintaining the sewer system.

“I believe the cost for this service to be reasonable as, practically speaking, it costs a homeowner less than $1 a day to utilize toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers and washing machines,” Parisi stated.

Read Parisi’s full letter to residents here.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

According to Parisi, the Township of West Orange is part of the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties Sewerage Authority, which operates and manages the sewage plant in Elizabeth, and assesses the connected communities an annual charge to cover operating costs.

In addition to the annual assessment, the township maintains 110 miles of sewer infrastructure and operates nine pump stations that pump the sewage from local homes to the plant in Elizabeth.

The township also employs full-time sewer repair and maintenance personnel to maintain the pump stations and infrastructure within our community, Parisi added.

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.