Huntingdon Sewer, Water Rates Increased

HUNTINGDON (June 24) — The Huntingdon Town Council met Tuesday for second and final readings of four ordinances to conclude the current fiscal year and begin the next, including two that raise water and sewer rates, one to establish the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and one that makes year-end adjustments to balance the FY25 budget.

Despite a capacity crowd in the meeting room at city hall, a public hearing on the two budgets yielded no citizen participation.

However, prior to the votes on the water and sewer rates, the council heard comments from several residents of Lake Halford concerning their sewer rates.

Lake resident Henry Simpson was the first to speak on behalf of that community. He offered that a change in wording could quell some of the concerns. Although the sewer fee for non-water customers (such as those living near the lake) is a flat rate, the language in the ordinance and on billing materials describes the rate as based on a set monthly gallon usage (previously 5,000, increasing to 6,000). Simpson suggested that changing the language to "flat rate" would make it more palatable to those customers who know they aren't using nearly the amount of water on which their sewer rate is based.

Several chimed in to note that many only reside at their lake properties part-time and questioned whether it was fair to charge them the same as full-time residents. One commenter also mentioned people who have lived in the area longer than the lake has existed and didn't choose to take on the extra expense.

The final comments came from Jane Simpson, who expressed appreciation that the mayor and council heard the concerns of lake residents while still echoing displeasure in the situation.

Mayor Chad Edwards pointed out a few factors that complicate water and sewer service at the lake.

First, the lake is located in the Cedar Grove water district, so the rights to any water connections requested by lake residents belong to Cedar Grove. Water usage data is available for those utilizing Cedar Grove water, but not for the majority that use well water.

Second, to ensure the quality of the lake water itself, residents can't be allowed to use septic systems. Edwards noted the great expense incurred by Huntingdon to install the sewer system and pump waste from the lake back to the town. 

Third, it's not feasible to measure sewer output with a meter in the way water usage is measured.

Several councilpersons noted another factor, that there's no fair or efficient way to determine what percentage of the time a given family or individual is residing at the lake. Daniel Eubanks put it succinctly, "If you have a secondary house, you're taking on that extra cost of living."

These factors mean that actual sewer output can't be measured, water usage data is only available for the minority of residents utilizing Cedar Grove water service and there's no mechanism to pro-rate for part-time residents.

The mayor said, "It's just the cost of living around the lake and I hate it. But what's been happening is the Town of Huntingdon, the people that live in the city limits, have been bearing the expense for the sewer out there."

Edwards reiterated the need for the increase as several multimillion-dollar improvement projects are or were long overdue, and he issued a blunt warning that without incremental increases to rates, the state could force the town's hand with a massive increase all at once. "We do not want the comptroller coming down here and running this town."

The water and sewer rate changes, automatically adjusted annually to reflect cost of living, amount to a three percent increase, broken down into volume usage and monthly minimums based on meter size.

The new usage rate for water is $4.73 per 1,000 gallons inside corporate limits and $6.56 per 1,000 gallons outside corporate limits. The minimum monthly usage rate inside corporate limits ranges from $15.66 for a ⅝-inch meter up to $1,665.54 for a four-inch meter. Outside of corporate limits, the minimum rate is $20.61 for a ⅝-inch meter.

The new usage rate for sewer service is $7.42 per 1,000 gallons inside corporate limits and $9.17 per 1,000 gallons outside corporate limits. The minimum monthly usage rate inside corporate limits ranges from $15.65 for a ⅝-inch meter up to $1,564.92 for a four-inch meter. Outside of corporate limits, the minimum rate is $19.55 for a ⅝-inch meter.

Additionally, the rate for sewer customers outside corporate limits not connected to the Huntingdon Public Water System will be calculated based on a 6,000-gallon monthly usage (previously 5,000).

The council expressed intentions to amend the ordinance regarding sewer-only customers at an upcoming meeting to use the "flat rate" language suggested by the Simpsons and others in attendance.

Second readings of the ordinances raising water rates were approved unanimously.

The budget for Fiscal Year 2026 was approved on a 5-1 second reading vote, with Councilperson Chad Barnhart dissenting as he had on the first reading.

Barnhart explained at the prior meeting his dissatisfaction with the delay in reaching an agreement with the nonprofit Friends of The Dixie, which intends to form a partnership with the Town and assume operating responsibilities.

Walter Butler spoke briefly prior to the budget vote on behalf of the Friends. He said there was good progress with The Dixie. The Friends have already booked 20 shows with three more confirmed but not scheduled. Butler believes that the town is already seeing budgetary relief and that will only continue to improve.

The approved budget's General Fund projects $5,995,600 in revenues and $6,795,950 in appropriations. The resulting $800,350 deficit would dip into reserve funds, of which there is currently $7,334,107.

The Water and Sewer Fund projects operating revenues at $2,870,500 and operating expenses at $2,945,550. Factoring in non-operating finances brings the fund's expected deficit down to $15,900. Reserve funds are currently $13,681,655.

The aforementioned Dixie Carter Performing Arts Special Project Fund projects balanced revenues and appropriations of $709,000.

The Solid Waste Fund projects a balanced, $395,000 budget.

The Drug Fund projects $43,200 in revenues and $50,050 in appropriations for a $6,850 deficit, with reserve funds at $27,147.

The council unanimously approved the year-end adjustments to the FY25 budget on second reading.

Also approved was a request by the Carroll County Republican Party for the use of Sesquincentennial Park on Saturday, August 2.

The meeting adjourned in half an hour.

Councilperson Andrew Maddox was absent.