MSD raises rates 15 percent
By Phil Sutin
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/13/2007
Trustees of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District on Thursday raised sanitary sewer rates by 15 percent starting Jan. 1 and changed the system of storm-water service rates starting March 1.
They put into effect the first year of sanitary sewer and storm-water service rate increases that were part of a multiyear plan for rate hikes. The trustees tentatively approved that plan in October, but St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley asked trustees to moderate the increases.
The trustees asked the district’s rate commission to consider future rate increases which the district would soften by using bonds. Voters would have to approve the bonds.
The board’s action means the average monthly residential sanitary sewer bill will go to $25.74 from $22.38. The new rates are to appear on February sewer bills.
The board will restructure the storm-water rate to charge by impervious areas — structures that don’t absorb water, such as roofs, driveways, patios and parking lots. The initial monthly rate would be 12 cents for each 100 square feet of such areas. The new storm-water rates are to appear in April.
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