The City Council of Caney rejects water rate increases. According to the Montgomery County Chronicle City Administrator, Kelley Zellner proposed a 5% rate hike across the board for usage and base fees.
The proposal would have seen most customer’s bill increase by a few dollars in fees and an increase in usage fees would see prices rise from $2.85 per 100 cubic feet to $2.99 per 100 cubic feet for in-city customers and would increase from $3.10 per 100 cubic feet to $3.26 per cubic feet for out-of-town customers. The projected additional tax income would have generated at least $30,000 per year for the Caney water fund, which is expected to finish 2022 in the red.
Zellner said that the water shortage and costs associated with it were not the only reason for increased outlay to the city as the costs for chemicals used for the treating of water have gone up by $20,000 this year alone. The increase is blamed mainly on the inflationary trends that have made everything higher.
The measure failed on a 5-3 vote. Aaron Elliot, Nathan Rains, Keith Butts, and Shirley Davis rejected the hike, and councilors Lori Patterson, Marianne Ranes, and Debbie Wood cast yes votes.
