In-town water rates will increase 5% starting July 1, according to Urbanna’s $2.12 million budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, which was adopted by the town council on June 22.
There are no tax increases in the budget. Total projected tax revenue is $560,000. The general fund revenues plus transfers total $610,567.
There were no comments from the public during the required public hearing on June 8 on the water rates or on the budget.
In-town water rates would increase from $43.07 to $45.22 for the minimum usage of 6,000 gallons in two months, and $4.20 per 1,000 gallons above the minimum, a 20-cent increase from $4.00.
Out-of-town water rates will not increase and remain at $83.08 for the minimum usage of 6,000 gallons in two months, and $8.00 per 1,000 gallons above the minimum.
The increase for in-town water rates is necessary to meet criteria for certain grants, explained Mayor Bill Goldsmith, who serves as chairman of the finance committee. Some grants are not available if out-of-town water rates are more than 1.5 times the in-town rate, he said.
Before the increase, which takes effect on July 1, the out-of-town rate was almost twice the in-town rate, said Goldsmith…
