Sewer rates
Sewer rates rose 10 percent in March 2019, and officials are again requesting a 10 percent increase in 2020, which will cost a typical residential users an additional $3.73 per month.
“Sewer rates are reviewed with City Council as needed, taking in consideration operational, maintenance and capital improvement needs of the sewer system,” said Scott Tadych, public works and utilities director.
He said the city has been incrementally raising the sewer rates to avoid higher annual increases at one time.
The rates have been increasing annually as the city agreed to consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyto address combined sewer overflows. Tadych said the sewer rates are adjusted as needed to implement the 25-year, $265 million plan, which includes combined sewer overflow control projects along with major rehabilitation of the sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.
The city is completing a $2.71 million project in the Sunset Park area. In 2020, Middletown has budgeted $13.56 million in projects for the plan.
Middletown’s sewer rates are 56th lowest out of 63 communities in the 2019 Oakwood Water and Sewer Rate Survey for southwest Ohio. That amount is $195.63 based on 3,000 cubic feet of water used in a three-month period.
Middletown’s s water rates are 19th out of 66 communities. That amount is $104.70 for the same amount of water used. Water rates will remain the same for 2019. Middletown ranks 38th out of 63 communities in the combined water and sewer rate($300.33).
Trash collection rates
Council is also expected to approved a new three-year contract with Rumpke for trash collection, disposal and recycling services from Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2022.
City officials said Rumpke, the city’s current hauler, was the only company that submitted a bid. All services remain the same, including bi-weekly recycle cart pickup and optional trash cart rental for $2.50 per month. It also covers all trash collection at all city parks and facilities.
Middletown has 18,000 resident accounts, and about 10,000 residents rent their trash carts.
The fee for residents will be $15.50 per month, a 50-cent increase caused by the recent state gas tax increase. Other area cities immediately increased their fees last spring, but Middletown opted to wait until a new contract was negotiated.
The contract also has a 2 percent increase in 2021 and in 2022. The last time the city increased trash rates was in January 2017, according to officials.
PROOF OF PERFORMANCE
The Journal-News continues to monitor how much it costs residents for vital governmental services such as water and sewer in the community and advise them about upcoming rate hikes and why.
Water and sewer rates, 2019
The city of Oakwood surveys more than 60 communities throughout the region each year about how much it costs for water and sewer services. Oakwood breaks the amounts down for water, sewer and combined water and sewer costs.
Each participating jurisdiction is asked to calculate their effective water and sewer cost using a base consumption of 22,500 gallons or 3,000 cubic feet over a three-month period of time. Major capital investments can affect those rates.
Here is a snapshot of combined water and sewer costs in Butler County and selected communities in Preble and Warren counties:
Butler County - $202.37
Warren County - $210.38
Eaton - $215.34
Waynesville - $219.25
Fairfield - $223.57
Oxford - $234.30
Franklin - $242.91
Monroe - $251.49
Carlisle - $253.71
Hamilton - $273.39
Lebanon - $283.02
Trenton - $293.82
Mason - $297.23
Middletown - $300.33
Springboro - $303.92
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