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New Sewer Usage Charges

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED CHANGES IN SEWER CHARGES

NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Finance of the Town of New Canaan, acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, will hold a Public Hearing Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. in the Town Hall Meeting Room or Virtual, to hear public comment on proposed Sewer Fee rates for residents who are connected to the New Canaan Sewer System and Septage Fees for sewage haulers.

The Board of Finance changed the previous ad valorem sewer tax to a tiered, flat-rate Sewer Fee system for FY2020 and beyond.  For Residential sewer users, the User Fee flat rates were approved on 5/14/2019, to be phased in over three years for FY 2020, FY 2021 and FY 2022, subject to annual changes after FY2022 as may be required due to changes in the Sewer System annual operating budget or needs.  The User Fee rates are proposed to be flat for FY2023 while adjusting to three categories from the initial four:

 

Current

Proposed

RESIDENTIAL:

FY2022

FY2023

R Category # 1

$275

$275

R Category # 2

$385

$385

R Category # 3

$585

$585

R Category # 4

$735

 

 

Assessed value categories were assigned with assessed value bands, since the assessed value takes into account the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc., which parallels an estimate usage volume.  Based upon the three year experience, the categories will be combined from four to three which more effectively represents property type of usage.

R Category 1:     applies to single family homes and condos whose current assessed value is less than $450,000.

R Category 2:     applies to single family homes and condos whose current assessed value is between $450,000 & $749,999.

R Category 3:     applies to single family homes and condos whose current assessed value is $750,000 or more.

Apartments, co-op units and multi-family units are charged as R Category 2 sewer users for each unit.

Commercial sewer users are assigned to a flat User Fee rate category, or Special Mixed Use category for mixed use properties.  The User Fee for FY2022 was set at a 6/08/2021 meeting.  Based on the Sewer System’s annual operating budget and needs, the Board of Finance has recommended that Usage Fees remain flat from the current fiscal year. The proposed rates for FY 2023 are:

 

Current

Proposed

COMMERCIAL:

FY2022

FY2023

C Category #1

$780

$780

C Category #2

$1,300

$1,300

C Category #3

$2,600

$2,600

C Category #4

$3,640

$3,640

C Category #5

$5,200

$5,200

C Category #6

$10,200

$10,200

*  Commercial / Business                       Condominiums        

$260

$260

 

*  Commercial/Business Condominiums are assessed a base rate.  Occupancy type may result in placement in a higher Category.

Categories for Commercial properties are based on estimated annual water consumption as measured by Aquarion

Water Company and considering such factors as estimated average daily occupancy, tenant density and the nature of activities

conducted on the premises, such as food preparation, bathroom use, showers or other commercial operations.

Commercial users include commercial properties, churches, other non-profits, schools and municipal buildings.

Septage Fee:     The fee for sewage haulers depositing sewage at the Waste Water Treatment Plant is currently $100 per thousand gallons of disposal.  The proposed fee for FY2023 is $105 per thousand gallons.