Town Council Set To Move Forward With Proposed Water, Sewer, Property Tax Rates

The Vienna Town Council hosted a public hearing Monday night on the proposed water, sewer and tax rates in next year's budget. But just one resident spoke out against them, making it likely that the council will move forward with the rates as presented when they adopt the budget later this month.

The Council proposed a sewer rate of $5.73 per 1,000 gallons, a $0.50 increase. Based on a quarterly usage of 19,000 gallons, the average Vienna customer's bill would increase annually by $26.60, according to town documents.

The average Vienna homeowners’ property tax bill would increase about $43.59 under the proposed budget, which set the tax rate at 24.35 cents per $100 of assessed value. The FY 10-11 tax rate is 24.48 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to town documents.

The proposed budget also includes a $0.15  water rate decrease per 1,000 gallons. The rate would decrease from $3.99 to $3.84 per 1,000 gallons for in-town customers, and from $4.37 to $4.22 for out of town customers, according to town documents.

The rates have been placed on the June 20 agenda for adoption. If passed, they will become effective July 1.

Resident Roger Maamary, an avid gardener, told the Council on Monday night he was concerned he would face heavier charges during the spring and summer months, when he uses more water to spray down his garden.

“I keep seeing fees going up. I understand that we are going through a recession, we are lucky that we live in the Washington area where the recession wasn’t really that bad,” Maamary said. “I really don’t see the Town of Vienna making the extra effort to control spending.  Each time you guys need money you go out and raise fees and raise taxes.  Last month we had the election, everyone was using the slogan ‘fiscal
discipline.' I really don’t see any of that going on. I love this town, I’d like to stay in this town, but to keep raising fees is not really acceptable.”

Councilwoman Laurie Cole told Maamary the excess use fee charged to residents if their water usage exceeds their average by 6,000 gallons or more during warmer months is lower than the sewer rate, and is charged during the period of June 1 to Nov. 1.

“This is a small comfort, perhaps, but you are only paying for the water that you are using in that excess use period during the summer and fall,” Cole said. “It does not up your sewer charges.”

The excess usage fee is $2.15 per 1,000 gallons over average consumption, which is calculated each June. The excess use fee is described in detail on the Town of Vienna website.

No residents spoke out against the property tax increase or the change in water charges.

Mayor Jane Seeman told Maamary and other residents that budget work sessions are open to the public in the spring, and invited him to those sessions next year to provide input on ways of saving money for taxpayers.

Town Council is scheduled to adopt the FY 11-12 budget at its next regular meeting, which begins at 8 p.m. June 20.