Rate Hikes 'Excessive,' Some Residents Say

Vienna's will be approved two weeks later than scheduled after opposition at a public hearing on water and sewer rates Monday prompted the town's council to keep discussion open.

Council members voted to extend the public hearing on the rates — expected to move from $3.84 to $4.75 per thousand gallons for water and $5.73 to $6.66 per thousand gallons for sewer — to May 7, delaying final budget approval until May 21.

Under the plan, the average resident will pay $139.93 more annually in water and sewer costs, according to town documents.

The budget proposal also calls for the town to equalize rates for in-town residents and those serviced outside Vienna boundaries.

"This is a pretty heavy increase," resident Ed Turkaly said Monday. "It's pretty excessive to hit somebody with that, especially those people that are retired."

Town Manager Mercury Payton said the town was exploring a "multitude of ways" to get the rates down.

One of them could be getting cheaper water, a solution some council members have hoped for in previous discussions.

Another could be selling the system, a move council members and shelved at the time but said it could be an option at some point in the future.

On Monday, officials declined to elaborate further, citing ongoing discussion and

"We're looking to make sure it remains solvent," said Payton, who told residents the town came into this fiscal year with a deficit in the water and sewer fund. "We do have a long-term concern that if this is going to be a trend ... we’re looking as a town to see what we should do with the water sewer system, but we are very concerned, as you are, about where this is going."

Rising Costs

When Payton presented the proposed fiscal year 2013 spending plan in February, the 15.5 percent increase in the town's water and sewer fund was the largest among the town's three budget areas.

The town will see a $1 million increase in water purchase and sewage treatment costs over the next year alone, Payton said. To keep up with an aging system, the town needs to spend an average of $1.3 million to $1.9 million a year for a total of

On Monday, residents said the town's rates continue to be "much higher" than in neighboring jurisdictions and suggested it try to find alternate sources or become a part of a larger system.

"I'd ask you to seriously consider getting better quality water at a cheaper rate," resident Osama Amad said. "And I urge the town to look at taking advantage of the economy of scale ... the bigger the system, the cheaper it is."

The Town of Vienna buys water from the City of Falls Church. Fairfax Water saying the move could allow them to provide lower rates to customers and expand their service area.

Payton acknowledged the town's rates were increasing more than those in some other surrounding areas. But he said many jurisdictions were increasing their rates, largely because of stricter, more expensive Chesapeake Bay water quality standards.

Councilman Howard Springsteen pointed out the town's water and sewer fund is separate from the town's general fund; property tax, which saw no increase this year, and other revenue sources are not tied to water and sewer maintenance or fees.

"The bottom line is we’re paying more money, so the net is positive, not negative," resident Roger Maamary said. "Whether you’re taking my money from the left pocket or the right pocket, you’re still taking it."

No Speakers In Real Estate Tax Rate Hearing

No residents spoke during the public hearing about the town's real estate tax rate, which will remain at 24.21 cents per $100 of assessed value.

But Vienna residents also pay real estate taxes to Fairfax County. While County Executive Anthony Griffin proposed the increase in home values over the past year combined with Griffin's request for a $0.01 increase in the storm water services fee would require the average homeowner to pay about $79 more in real estate taxes than last year.

The Board of Supervisors put a $1.08 rate in the budget they're now considering, which would add $19.95 million to that proposal.

Each cent above $1.07 would add another $45 to the average taxpayer bill, according to the county.