Murphy to raise water, sewer rates

    Murphy – Town water and sewer customers will see an increase in rates over the next five years as Murphy positions itself to fund various infrastructure needs.
    Town officials are expected to decrease the minimum monthly consumption allowance of water and sewer over the next four years, while simultaneously raising rates by 6 percent each year through 2026.
    To put this in perspective, the monthly water bill for a residential customer within city limits that only consumes the new minimum allowance of 2,750 gallons would increase by $1.25 compared to today’s rates. Customers outside city limits would see an increase double that amount.
    Officials have identified $17.7 million worth of water and sewer infrastructure needs, and town council are planning to fund $3.9 million in improvements over the next 10 years. Officials expect to spend $600,000 in improvements within the next 13 months.
    The council is expected to approve the proposed budget before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins. The town manager’s proposal maintains today’s property tax rate of 38 cents per $100 of valuation.
    The proposed budget also appropriates funds to purchase three new hybrid vehicles for the police department, which is expected to cost a combined total of about $115,000. Officials also plan to spend $320,000 on a new mini pumper for Murphy Fire Department, which will be partly funded from revenue sources other than the town’s tax base.
    Town officials also plan to add one full-time law enforcement position at the police department, while improving staffing at the fire department. The budget proposal also appropriates about $24,000 in Christmas bonuses for non-contract employees.