City of Dunkirk Sets Public Hearing for Proposal to Adjust Water Rates

It has been at least a decade since the City of Dunkirk has adjusted its water rates, but that may change at the beginning of next year. City lawmakers have scheduled a public hearing for next Tuesday, September 15th for a local law that would change the city's water billing structure, effective January 1st. Comptroller Tracy Smith-Dengler, who spoke about the measure during last week's Common Council meeting, says among the changes being proposed is the elimination of the declining block rate...

Tracy Smith-Dengler: industrial and commercial customers are paying less

Smith-Dengler says another proposed change is a $10 increase in the base rate -- from $20 to $30 for city customers and from $35 to $45 for customers outside the city. She says monthly minimums would be adjusted as well...

Tracy Smith-Dengler: changes to monthly minimums

Also, the city's bulk water rate would increase from half a cent per gallon to five cents per gallon. Smith-Dengler says that even with those changes, the new rates would still be substantially lower compared to neighboring communities...

Tracy Smith-Dengler: would still be lowest in the area

Smith-Dengler says the city is projecting that the changes will result in $5.6 million in revenue generated, which she says will go a long way toward putting the city's Enterprise Fund back into profitable status. Next Tuesday's public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 PM at City Hall, right before the Common Council's next regular meeting.

Below are the proposed rates in the local law:

File photo; audio from Dunkirk Access