LISBON — Representatives of the Columbiana County Water and Sewer District are asking county commissioners to increase sewer rates by 10% this year, 10% next year and 5% in 2027 for customers in the various sewer districts served by the county.

Commissioner Mike Halleck said they’ll review the request. No action was taken.

County Engineer Bert Dawson, who also serves as sanitary engineer, and county Chief Deputy Sanitary Engineer Troy Graft explained the need for the rate increases during a presentation to commissioners Wednesday, noting the last sewer increase was in July 2017.

In that eight years, Graft said the Consumer Price Index has risen 26%.

According to Graft, they’ve done a lot of cost cutting in those eight years, shopping around for better prices for waste haulers, not replaced a sewer employee who left and sent $735,000 worth of defaulted accounts to the county auditor for placement on customers’ taxes as a special assessment.

He estimated the default rate at $100,000 per year, with the number at $105,000 in 2024. With a budget of $2 million for the water and sewer department, he said that’s a default rate of about 5%. In 2024, he said expenses outnumbered income by $185,000, so increases are needed.

Graft also said costs of equipment have gone up, using a pump as an example, saying previously a pump may have costs anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 but now the cost if more like $15,000 to $16,000.

“The time we’ve gone without a rate increase tells the story,” Dawson said. “We try to run the most efficient water and sewer department around.”

Dawson said all costs of operating have skyrocketed.

As part of the written proposal to commissioners, Graft said “we understand that rising costs impact everyone, therefore, we recommend using the above structure for the sewer rate increase over a three-year period to help minimize the impact. This will allow the county Water and Sewer District to get back on solid footing and provide the professional services that the residents of Columbiana County expect and deserve.”

The “above structure” he was talking about was a table showing each district with the current rate and the rates effective July 2025, July 2026 and July 2027. The increase to rates will be for those areas not under a contract, such as the federal prison and the village of Lisbon.

The current monthly rates and proposed increases, listed in order, include:

— Calcutta: $7.49 per 1,000 gallons ($3/month debt), $8.24, $9.06, $9.52

— Skyview Acres: $22.04 flat rate/month ($3/month R&R), $24.24, $26.67, $28

— Russell Heights $9.80 per 1,000 gallons, $10.78, 11.86. $12.45

— JVS: $7.14 per 1,000 gallons, $7.85, $8.64, $9.07

— Elkton: $7.14 per 1,000 gallons, $7.85, $8.64, 9.07

— Guilford: $22.04 flat rate/month, $24.24, $26.67, $28

— Guilford Camper Parks per space: $11.03, $12.13, $13.35, $14

— Guilford ODNR Camper Park: $5.81 per 1,000 gallons, $6.39, $7.03, $7.38

— Winona: $10.50 OM&R/month, $11.55, $12.71, $13.34

— Winona flat rate/with debt: $50.59, $51.64, $52.80, $53.43

— Rose View Acres: $21.08 flat rate/month, $22.09. $24.30, $25.51

— Rose View Acres: $41.97 total flat rate (with debt/R&R), $43.98, $46.19, 47.41

— Beaver Local: $7.34 per 1,000 gallons over 3,000 gallons, $7.85, $8.64, $9.07

— Beaver Local minimum first 3,000 gallons: $20, $22, $24.20, $25.41

— Duke Road: $7.49 per 1,000 gallons (plus $3/month debt), $8.24, $9.06, $9.52

— County Home Road: $7.14 per 1,000 gallons, $7.85, $8.64, $9.07

— United Local: $425 flat rate/month, $467, $514, $540

— Glenmoor: $6.47 per 1,000 gallons, $7.12, $7.83, $8.22 (debt remains $40.57)

— Kensington, $58.05 flat rate/month, $49.76, $49.76, $49.76

— Hanoverton, starting in June, proposed $49,76, $49.76 , $49.76

Graft also requested that residential tap-in fees increase from $1,500 to $4,500 range to $4,500, with small business tap-in fee at $9,000. He noted that Kensington will get a discount because of the increase in users from Hanoverton.

The recently completed Hanoverton sanitary sewer project would be excluded from the rate increase until Jan. 1, 2027.

The average usage per month for sewer is about 4,500 gallons, Graft said.

Dawson said the commissioners took great care of the department with the American Rescue Plan Act funds, enabling them to build the Kensington sewer system and now the Hanoverton sewer system this year.

“If you’re going to have economic development, you have to have infrastructure,” Halleck said.

mgreier@mojonews.com