Sun Gazette Fairfax May 22, 2014

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MAY 22, 2014

Vienna Water, Sewer Fees to Cut Average Bills Slightly BRIAN TROMPETER Staff Writer

The Vienna Town Council on May 12 unanimously adopted a new water and sewer fees that will charge residential and commer-

cial properties in proportion to their respective amounts of usage – and likely save many customers a bit of money in the bargain. Between July 2013 and this February, town officials conducted a study aimed at stabilizing Vienna’s water and sewer funds by having

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Sami Scout, 7, is poised to play one of the many games offered during the annual McLean Day PHOTO BY LY VUONG festivities on May 17 at Lewinsville Park.

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reliable cash flow throughout the year. Vienna currently charges all water customers $4.75 per 1,000 gallons. The town also charges a sewer fee of $6.66 per 1,000 gallons for in-town and out-of-town (non-Fairfax County) customers and $6.55 for out-of-town Fairfax County sewer customers. The town also charges water and sewer customers other related fees, including a charge of $2.15 per 1,000 gallons for usage that exceeds average consumption. Under the new “block structure” plan, residential water customers on a quarterly basis will pay per-1,000-gallon fees of $4.66 for up to 16,000 gallons, $5.10 for using between 16,001 and 32,000 gallons and $6 for 32,001 gallons or more. Residential sewer customers each quarter will pay per-1,000-gallon charges of $5.75 for up to 16,000 gallons, $6.25 for between 16,001 and 32,000 gallons and $7.30 for 32,001 or more gallons. Residential customers also will pay a base fee of $15 per quarter. Commercial water customers will pay quarterly per-1,000-gallon fees of $4.66 for up to 90,000 gallons, $5.10 for between 90,001 and 180,000 gallons and $5.95 for 180,001 gallons or more. Commercial sewer customers each quarter will pay per-1,000-gallon charges of $5.75 for up to 90,000 gallons, $6.25 for between 90,001 and 180,000 gallons and $7.25 for 180,001 or more gallons. Commercial property owners will pay a base fee of $15.75 per quarter for meters up to five-eighths of an inch in diameter. All other per-quarter charges based on meter size will stay the same, town officials said. Unlike previous adjustments to the water and sewer rates, which usually took effect 10 days after the Council adopted them, the new fee schedule will start July 1 to align with the new fiscal year, said Town Attorney Steven Briglia. Average residential customers will see their bills drop slightly under the new billing regime, town officials said.

“This helps out people who don’t use a lot” of water and sewer services, said Council member Carey Sienicki. Council Adopts Fiscal 2015 Budget, Real Estate Tax Rate: With the necessary public hearings out of the way, the Vienna Town Council voted unanimously May 12 to adopt the town’s fiscal year 2015 budget, hold the real estate tax rate flat and maintain a series of local taxes. The nearly $32.4 million budget for fiscal 2015 includes about $22.6 million for general-fund expenditures, $2.7 million for debtservice costs, $6.8 million for water and sewer fund expenses and about $246,000 for stormwater costs. The town’s tax rate will remain at 22.88 cents per $100 assessed valuation, which Vienna residents pay on top of Fairfax County’s $1.09 per $100 rate. The town’s real estate tax will bring in about $9.76 million, officials estimated. Some local residents this spring pleaded in vain for the Town Council and Board of Supervisors to lower their real estate tax rates to offset higher residential housing assessments. Council members also voted to maintain the town’s bank net capital tax of 80 cents per $100 valuation, a residential-utility tax of 20 percent of the first $15 and a commercial-utility tax of 15 percent of the first $300. The new fiscal year begins July 1. Council to Appoint 2 Members – Including a Short-Timer: The Vienna Town Council in the next several weeks will have to appoint people to serve two unexpired terms, including one of short duration. The Council will appoint someone to fill the Council seat of Mayor Laurie DiRocco, who was sworn in April 8 to fill the remainder the late Mayor M. Jane Seeman’s term. DiRocco ran unopposed May 6 for a two-year term that begins July 1. Her unexpired Council term ends June 30, 2015. Continued on Page 21

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