MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — At their meeting Tuesday night, the Milledgeville City Council discussed a plan to raise water and sewage prices.
The city says they are trying to fix their outdated water system.
Homeowners say breaks and leaks have plagued them for years. One homeowner, Timothy Settle, says he is ready for a better system for water.
“It's not going to be good anytime fees go up," Settle said. "It makes things more stressful in a business. However, we have to take into account a longer term approach. If we want to see these cities grow and develop we have to see infrastructure grow.”
Settle owns Green Street Pool Tavern and says he understands why the city needs to add these water fees, though he wishes the city council would have a better plan for when this water treatment plant will be finished.
“If they would take a more practical approach to increasing the tax base we would not need to increase taxes or fees on businesses,” he says.
City Council member Walter Reynolds says he hopes the higher water rates pass.
“The revenue generated is going to help improve the water treatment plant and to repair the water infrastructure because that’s the key you have to be able to provide reliable water service,” he says.
The plan passed in a vote on Tuesday, Aug. 27. As a result of the vote, water rates will rise on Jan. 1, 2025, July 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026.
Reynolds says the goal is to ease people into the increase.