PRINCETON, IN (WFIE) -
Princeton City Council on Monday approved the first reading of an ordinance that would increase sewer rates by nearly 52%.
City council looked at two different options. The one members voted in favor of will increase the average household bill by $15 a month.
These days everything seems like it's going up in Princeton.
First, water rates increased by more than 50%, then trash by 67%, and the newest proposal a nearly 52% price hike in sewer service.
"This is going to be quite an increase on the lower income, fixed income families. It's going to be hard on them," said resident Bruce Fisher.
Under the proposal, the average household using 5,000 gallons of water a month will see their bills go from $30 to $45.
"I have an incredible amount of sympathy for those on fix incomes, people on social security, people with just small incomes who can't handle these types of increases," said city council member Steve Taylor.
City Council members say they don't have a choice but to raise rates. This is after 10 years of no increases.
"The costs have added up over a long period of time and now all of sudden we have large increases we have to pass along," Taylor said.
"It's not good, but you can't run in the red," said resident Bruce Mcintosh.
Monday night, city council members considered another option that would raise rates by 58% putting extra money into the general fund.
Residents say they're happy that option was flushed down the toilet.
"If they need more money, for say garbage pickup, then they should have another meeting and address it as garbage pickup and not try to hide it, because down the road it's hard to remember where we got this money from and what it's supposed to be used for," Mcintosh said.
All city council members voted in favor of the 52% increase on Monday night.
An official vote and final public comment session are expected to take place Monday, July 16th at 6 p.m.
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