DeKalb County commissioners approve 10% water, sewer rate hike
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday afternoon to approve a plan to double residents' water and sewage bills over the next 10 years, starting in May with an immediate 10% increase.
The plan to use higher water and sewer bills to pay for a water system upgrade, replacing thousands of miles of pipes and other equipment, has been in the works for years.
Over the past few months, DeKalb County has seen a number of large water main breaks, including a recent one in Brookhaven that left thousands without water for several days.
In the aftermath, and while repairs were underway, newly elected DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochrane-Johnson pushed for a rate hike to pay for it.
Now, the county commission has approved the plan, with a 10% rate hike for the county's residents coming soon, following by another nine 10% annual increases through 2034.
Over 10 years, with a 10% increase per year, DeKalb County residents' water bills will literally double.
For customers currently averaging a bill of about $50, that means next month will be about $55 instead, as an example.
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DeKalb County leaders to vote on 10-year water, sewer rate hike Tuesday
DeKalb Co. residents could soon pay more for water service
DeKalb County water crews fix the latest of several water main breaks in the last month
DeKalb Co. commissioners discuss 10% per year water rate increases
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