St. Louis Considers Revenue Bond Issue

Sanitary sewer rates issued by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District may decrease significantly over the next three years under a $275 million revenue bond issue to be considered by voters. First, the district's rate commission must review staff plans and make recommendations before district trustees can place the proposal on a ballot.

Area residents anticipate paying more for their sanitary sewer and storm water services, as trustees will implement the first year of rate hikes in December. These rates are set to continue climbing under the multiyear plan, approved tenatively in October.

A simple majority is needed to pass the $275 million bond issue. The bonds would cover about 42 percent of the $660 million the district would need to invest in sewer system constructio, operating expenses and some preventative maintenance work.

Under the possible proposal, district staff would increase sewer rates by less than 28 percent, not the previously considered 64 percent, said District Executive Director Jeff Theerman.

Sanitary sewer rates will go up 15 percent starting in January, bumping the average monthly residential sanitary sewer bill from $22.38 to $25.74. In addition to sewer rate hikes, trustees have tenatively approved a new storm water control rate system that would hit nonprofit groups' budgets particularly hard.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch