Increases would be 3, 7 percent monthly
The Waycross water-sewer system is on the brink of catastrophe if the spate of pipes collapsing continues at its current rate, City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford said recently.
“The City of Waycross drainage system was put in roughly around 1964,” Rayford said during a Thursday, January 2 Town Hall meeting hosted by District 1 Commissioner Shawn Roberts.
“Most of the piping was put in in the ’60s and has a life span of about 14 years. All the pipes went in at the same time and they’re all failing at the same time. Right now, it’s so bad our streets are caving in on a mass scale.”
Rayford continued, “I can’t find any data where any of it has been replaced. We’re talking decades and decades past it’s life cycle.”
“We should have been adjusting the rates to inflation. We cannot keep up with the failure of our systems.”
According to Rayford, the city has not raised its water-sewer rates in 16 years.
Given that, Rayford is proposing a utility rate increase of three percent for residential properties and seven percent for commercial properties.
Rayford said the goal is to raise $250,000 to use for grant matching funds.
Most grants require the applicant to supply matching money starting at 10 percent of the funding sought.
“We’re going to do a little increase over a longer period of time,” he said. “The money is definitely just matching money. Three percent will not afford the city to catch up. The big picture is we never have matching funds available.”
The utility account presently brings in approximately six million dollars a year. “It seems like a lot of money, but when you’re constantly repairing water and sewer it’s gone before the year ends,” said Rayford. “Right now, we pay emergency rates for repairs which will always be higher.”
Rayford says he cannot legally take money from other accounts such as the general fund to make utility repairs.
“Sewer and water have to sustain themselves,” he said. “It’s not just the drainage, it’s the plant. The last time we did an investment in the plant has been 22 years.”
If the city commission votes to approve the proposal, Rayford said the increase will go into effect July 1 with the beginning of the Fiscal 2025-26 year. He said he is preparing a more detailed presentation which will be ready for viewing as early as February.
“We haven’t done anything for years and it’s getting bad,” Rayford said. “If we don’t do anything and the next two or three pipes collapse at the same time, they’re going to wipe the city out financially.”
