ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995               TAG: 9512010013
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU 

PULASKI SEWER RATE INCREASE MAY BE DELAYED UNTIL FEBRUARY, WITH ANOTHER SOON AFTER

Pulaski residents may not have to pay a higher sewer rate until February, but they are likely to get another increase five months later.

A staff study of rates had gone to the town's Utilities Committee, with a goal of holding a public hearing and adopting new rates at Tuesday's Town Council meeting. But the Utilities Committee lacked a quorum when it met Thursday and could not recommend the increase.

In any case, Committee Chairman John Johnston felt the group needed more time to hold a public hearing and disseminate the information. He said a hearing and possible adoption could be set for council's meeting Dec. 19.

Because the matter will be postponed, it will be too late to catch December bills. New rates would begin in January.

Assistant Town Manager Rob Lyons pointed out that even the proposed increase early next year would not balance the sewer fund budget. Another increase would be necessary in the town's 1996-97 budget.

But a rate increase for the first part of 1996 would at least keep the town from having to make a transfer from the general fund to balance the sewer budget, as had to be done this fiscal year. "What we're trying to do is get the enterprise fund to pay for itself," Johnston said.

Town Manager Tom Combiths and Lyons have met with business representatives of the town's largest sewer customers and explained that increased rates are needed to fix the aging sewage system, which now costs more than it should because of leaks.

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