Date: Fri 01-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewers-assessement-WPCA

Full Text:

WPCA To Discuss Sewer Assessment Formula

Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) members are expected to discuss an

upward revision of their sewer assessment formula for residential properties

at a WPCA meeting slated for 8 pm on December 14 in Town Hall South.

WPCA members already have set the residential sewer assessment at $9,600 for

houses in the sewer district with up to four bedrooms. Under the $9,600

scheme, the owner of a five-bedroom house would be charged $12,000, and the

owner of a six-bedroom house would be charged $14,400.

WPCA Chairman Peter Alagna told WPCA member Richard Zang that members of the

Legislative Council's finance committee at a recent meeting endorsed a flat

$9,900 residential sewer assessment, provided that the higher charges not be

levied against houses with more than four bedrooms.

Mr Alagna said getting the finance panel's members to hold the residential

sewer assessment down to $9,900 was "a big achievement."

Mr Alagna said the final residential sewer assement which will be levied

aginst property owners should not be any higher than $9,900.

It would be "unrealistic" to have a residential sewer assessment any higher

than $9,900, Mr Zang said.

Mr Zang and Mr Alagna spoke at a December 6 session of the WPCA's sewer

assessment subcommittee.

Mr Zang suggested that existing multifamily housing in the sewer district be

treated like commercial property for sewer assessment purposes. Individual

appraisals will be used to set commercial sewer assessments.

After the WPCA completes its residential sewer assessment rate, its membership

is expected to attend a Legislative Council meeting to discuss the matter.

Although the WPCA has the legal authority to set the sewer assessments, Mr

Alagna has said he considers cooperation between the WPCA and council an

important aspect of the assesment process.

A residential sewer assessment is the amount of money that a property owner

will have to pay the town over a 20-year-period at a subsidized 2 percent

interest rate to cover their share of sewer system construction costs.