Under the new rates, residential water customers located within city limits will pay $14 for the first 2,000 gallons plus $2.40 per additional thousand gallons. Commercial water customers located within city limits will pay $45 for the first 15,000 gallons plus $2.25 per additional thousand gallons.
Residential water customers located outside city limits will pay $28 for the first 2,000 gallons plus $4.80 per additional thousand gallons. Commercial water customers located outside city limits will pay $90 for the first 15,000 gallons plus $4.50 per additional thousand gallons.
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“We did a lot of research across the nation and then focused on communities around Bogalusa,” she said.
The rates would need to “cover the service on the bond,” and pay for continuing operations and maintenance, said Bloom.
“We used the Varnado (Water Works) system as it applies to people in the Bogue Lusa section of their system,” she said. “With that income, we should be able to pay the debt service and pay for operations.”
Bloom said the idea was to cover the needs while not putting any undue burden on customers.
“St. Tammany, Abita Springs and, I believe maybe Franklinton, are higher,” she said. “This seems to me a very fair rate.”
The current average monthly residential water payment, $21, would purchase about 5,000 gallons of water under the new system, said Bloom.
“And the plan is to have a two month period when people will pay their old bill, but have the figures they would pay under the metered system so they can check leaks or make any adjustments, and therefore manage their use,” she said.
During the public hearing, a handful of representatives of Reddy-Ice asked a variety of questions, including whether the two month lead-in would also apply to commercial customers and when the new rates would go into effect. They said the company realizes it has benefited under the flat rate system, but has concerns about the metered system.
The company gets lower rates in other locations both within and outside Louisiana, they said. But they also admitted it pays higher rates in some locations, as well.
Bloom said the lead-in would apply across the board, and that the meter installation project must be started by next February and she imagines it would take about 18 months to complete.
Comments
curious07 wrote on Sep 13, 2009 3:04 PM:
Marcus wrote on Sep 11, 2009 1:30 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 10, 2009 9:45 AM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 10, 2009 9:08 AM:
" Have you noticed how The Bogalusa City Council ,And members of The Bogalusa City Administration, talks about spending OUR MONEY with such absolute ease? "
YES, Marcus, "they" think money flows like water! ... Remember: SEWER RATES WILL BE 95% of the WATER COST!, add to this GARBAGE... I just paid $51.15 total! I am living on Social Security! HELP! "
Not another wrote on Sep 9, 2009 8:27 AM:
How will we keep our beer cold while we're riding around drinking? "
Spending wrote on Sep 9, 2009 8:23 AM:
Appears they should have spent a little time questioning the expenditures against budget crisis along the way. At this point being interested in what might happen in 2011 seems since less.
Who owns, runs and mails bills created by the meters when Bogalusa is bankrupt? The current city leaders from their jail cells? "
Wants to Know wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:04 PM:
WANTS TO KNOW wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:58 PM:
me wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:49 AM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:22 PM:
Really? Is Abita Springs, Franklinton, , "St Tammany", (a Parishy) comparable to Bogalusa?
... WHY did not the Mayor show up at this City Hall Council Meeting and "Face the Music" ... ?
... PERHAPS the water rates should be based on the individual's ability to pay!
... Sandy Bloom can afford to pay MUCH ... most citizens cannot afford to pay very much MORE for Water! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:10 PM:
Many people can afford to pay these rates ... many cannot pay these rates! HELP! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:02 PM:
" Have you noticed how The Bogalusa City Council ,And members of The Bogalusa City Administration, talks about spending OUR MONEYwith such absolute ease? "
YES, Marcus ... This Mayor and all seven council persons need to be "booted" out of office! They DO NOT REPRESENT THE VOICE OF THE ELECTORATE! They are (every one of them) SELF SERVING! Bogalusa deserves LEADERSHIP for a CHANGE!
Aren't you tired of listening to them put the citizens DOWN? I am ... "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:54 PM:
WHEN "THEY" WIN, "YOU" LOOSE! "
Just Me wrote on Sep 5, 2009 11:15 PM:
Marcus wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:46 AM: