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Great Falls Residents Will See a Hike in Water and Sewer Rates April First

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Mar 16, 2010 at 9:32 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2010 at 9:55 PM MST

If you live in Great Falls, or own a business here, your water bill will go up at the beginning of April. City commissioners voted 4-1 to increase water rates by five percent and sewer rates by seven percent. This comes a little more than a year after the commission voted to raise rates by five percent.

City commissioner Fred Burow says the increase is based on the number of aging pipes that are about to collapse on us. He says fixing them is much more inexpensive than replacing them altogether. And if we do not fix them now, they will collapse and it will cost the city even more down the road. Jim Rearden, the Public Works Director says the average pipe in Great Falls is 40 years old.

Mayor Michael Winters was the only one to oppose the increases. He says everyone is trying to stretch their dollars and those who spoke out against the rate hikes seemed to agree.

Chuck Henry says, "The average income in Great Falls, Montana has not went up at all. The average hourly rate today is $7.50 an hour. I don't believe the city and the people in the city that run the system realize how poor the people are."

Bill Boland says, "Until the city can get its fiscal house in order and get some common sense, I am opposed to any rate increases for any taxpayers of the city of Great Falls."

John Hubbard notes, "As for raising any taxes, no, we can't afford it. I get a generous $753 a month to live on."

City commissioners also appointed themselves as the new ECP Board of Directors on Tuesday night. They are replacing the five ECP directors that were removed by the commissioners earlier this month.

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