Water, sewer rates going up for STPUD customers

By Kathryn Reed

Sewer and water rates are going up July 1 for South Tahoe Public Utility District customers.

On a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to raise sewer rates 5 percent and water rates 2 percent. Board members Chris Cefalu and Randy Vogelgesang voted against the rate increase. Cefalu has said all along he is against raising rates.

During a break in the May 17 board meeting, Vogelgesang told Lake Tahoe News, “I was for a zero percent increase. Everyone I know has had their income go down.”

He would like cuts be made in the budget, but would not share his ideas with Lake Tahoe News. Vogelgesang said he has spoken to General Manager Richard Solbrig about his ideas, but then added he does not want to micromanage.

Eric Schafer, president of the board, said while he appreciates the financial constraints people are under, to keep services at the level people are used to requires investing in the product. He said smaller rate increases are easier to cope with than going years without an increase and levying a large spike in fees to ratepayers.

The combined rate increase will mean an additionaal $27.60 a year for most residential ratepayers.

It was a 5-0 vote to alter the rate for metered water customers.

No members of the public spoke at the Thursday afternoon meeting.

Information about how the additional money will be spent is outlined in this article.