Selma Council Split 3-2 On 10 Percent Sewer Rate Increase

SELMA, N.C. – Sewer customers in Selma will see higher bills in October after the Town Council approved a 10 percent rate increase that takes effect Sept. 1.

The council voted 3-2 Tuesday night, to approve the increase. Council Members William Overby and Susan Parrish Watson voted against it.

The decision came five days after council members first considered the rate adjustment during their Aug. 6 meeting.

At that meeting, council members expressed concern about the impact another utility increase would have on residents and delayed a vote to give Town Manager Phillip McDaniel time to determine whether the town had any other options.

McDaniel reported at the Aug. 11 meeting that he had found none.

Johnston County treats Selma’s wastewater and is increasing the town’s bulk sewer rate by 10 percent effective Sept. 1. Town staff recommended passing that same increase along to Selma customers through a 10 percent increase in both the sewer usage rate and base fee for customers inside and outside the town limits.

McDaniel said the county’s rate increase is related to growth and the increasing demands being placed on its wastewater system.

Selma does not operate its own wastewater treatment facility and has no practical alternative provider available to treat the town’s sewage.

Town officials said the increase is essentially a pass-through of the additional cost being charged by Johnston County rather than a locally initiated increase to generate additional town revenue.

For a typical in-town residential customer using 2,000 gallons per month, town staff estimated the increase will add approximately $5.20 per month to the sewer bill.

The new rates take effect Sept. 1, with customers seeing the higher sewer charges reflected on their October billing statements.

Although council members were reluctant to increase costs for residents, the majority ultimately concluded the town had little choice but to pass along the county increase.

Overby and Watson, who voted against the increase, later resigned from the Town Council near the end of the Aug. 11 meeting.