Residential and business customers served by the Town of Smithfield will be paying more for sewer service starting this Friday, September 1st.
The Smithfield Town Council approved an average 6 percent rate increase to offset a six percent wholesale increase from the County of Johnston.
Smithfield Public Utilities Director Ted Credle called the increase an unforeseen expense which is not included in the current 2017-18 fiscal year budget. Smithfield had budgeted $2.3 million for sewer treatment costs this year. The rate hike will increase costs to a projected $2,438,000, a $138,000 increase.
Mayor Pro Tem Emery Ashley said the town had no choice but to increase rates.
In-town residents who now pay $6.98 per 1,000 gallons of sewage treated will pay $7.42 beginning September 1st. In-town commercial customers will see their rates increase from $7.76 to $8.26 per 1,000 gallons.
Out-of-town residential customers will see rates increase from $13.96 to $14.84 per 1,000 gallons. Out-of-town commercial customers will pay $16.52 up from $15.52.
Credle said the average customer will see their bill increase by about about $1.76. Base rates will remain unchanged.
Credle said no changes in the water rate are currently planned.
