Leesburg Town Council considers 4.1% annual water and sewer increase

Public input sought at Nov. 28 meeting

The Leesburg Town Council will hold an important public meeting Nov. 28 at Town Hall to receive public input as the Council considers a 4.1% water and sewer increase for homeowners that if passed would go into effect July 1, 2024.

A vote to amend the Town Code to establish new water and sewer charges and make necessary amendments is anticipated for the Council’s Nov. 28 meeting.

At the Nov. 14 Council meeting, NewGen Strategies and Solutions LLC, an energy, solid waste and water consultant based in Richardson, Texas recommended the increase. The company was hired by the Town to conduct a water and sewer study.

The new five-year utility rate plan and associated fees are based on three main guiding principles:

• The water and sewer enterprise fund must be financially self-supporting and does not use tax dollars.
• The utility fund should maintain adequate reserves for contingencies, emergencies, and unplanned expenses in order to maintain a safe and reliable water and sewer system.
• Water and sewer rates should adequately cover the cost of service, system monitoring, maintenance, and infrastructure renewal and replacement to ensure regulatory compliance.

Increases in sewer costs are primarily attributed to work that has been identified at the Water Pollution Control Facility to accommodate additional solids processing and nutrient removal facilities in compliance with Federal regulatory requirements.