BPW mulling buck-a-month rate increase
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney Board of Public Works residential customers will see their bills increase this year - but not as much as originally proposed.

At their long-range planning workshop at Lake Lure, N.C., over the weekend, Gaffney Board of Public Works commissioners recommended a flat $1 per month increase for each utility service, including electric, water and sewer. Residential utility bills could have risen as much as $5 per month under a previous proposal from utility general manager Donnie Hardin.

"The object was to have as little impact as possible for people on fixed incomes," Hardin said. "The Board just felt that we needed to work on less this year. The public is still suffering from high fuel costs."

The commissioners also gave the go-ahead for a straight 3 percent increase in sewer, electric and water rates for their commercial and industrial customers.

Hardin said the increase is needed to offset a projected rise in electric rates the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency charges the Board. The additional revenue would also cover increases in fuel and materials.

The commissioners will officially vote in March on the new rate hikes as part of their $35.5 million 2007- 2008 fiscal year budget. The rate hikes would take effect April 1.

Board employees will receive a 3.3 percent across-the-board wage hike as part of the new spending plan. Merit raises might also be included in the new budget.

Last year, commissioners approved a budget that held the line on rates and gave employees a 5 percent cost-of-living raise.

"While other businesses and utilities have raised their rates, we've held the line," Hardin said. "But at some point we need to offset an increase in our costs and do it with the least burden to our customers."