Updated May 10, 2019

City Administrator Terry Harrison is providing the Pulaski Mayor and Alderman with two 2019-2020 draft budgets for the Water and Sewer Department.

One includes no rate increase and the other budget includes a rate increase of $1 for water and $1 for sewer on minimum bills up to 1,000 gallons each.

The rate for water and sewer would increase by 8 percent which means anyone using 1,000 gallons or less would pay $13 for water and $13 for sewer. The water rate over 1,000 gallons would increase from $2.59 per 1,000 gallons to $2.88. The sewer rate would increase from $4.40 per 1,000 gallons to $4.75. Utility district rates would increase from $2 to $2.16 per 1,000 gallons.

 According to Harrison the difference in the water and sewer rates reflects the increased cost to treat wastewater.

Harrison said his goal has been to hold off a rate increase until 2021 when a note by the Water and Sewer Department was scheduled to be paid off.

 However, with some big projects undertaken last year and other big projects scheduled for this year, Harrison said the department does not have the money in reserves to complete those necessary projects.

The city council is not allowed to take money from its general budget or other departments to supplement water and sewer revenues.