Impact fees will only apply to new services
Folks who plan on living in the town of Jay will pay a higher water deposit and water tap fee as well as sewer tap fee after the Jay Town Council approved an increase at its June 17 meeting, following a comparison to nearby municipalities and discussion about the number of unpaid accounts and difficulty collecting on them.
Water deposits for home owners went from $50 to $100 and from $150 to $200 for renters, effective July 1, 2024, and billed August 1, 2024. The water tap fee went from about $850 average (depending on pipe size) to $1,200 and the sewer tap fee increased from $1,000 to $1,500.
Jay’s Billing Clerk, April Watson, did some comparison research of Jay’s rates to nearby towns on base rates and averages. She presented a graph of how much revenue several small different increases would generate. The town of Jay currently does not charge any impact fees.
“One thing I will say is, our tap fees are nothing compared to Pace’s, ECUA’s and Berrydale’s, which Berrydale has sewer obviously,” said Watson. “Milton and ECUA charge impact fees, which is something we do not do.”
Watson stated that since the town bills for water usage a month behind, there can be problems, especially if there is not enough of a deposit to cover the bill that may be left unpaid.
Currently, water accounts that are not paid by the 24th of the month are cut off on the 25th in an effort to curb unpaid accounts.
Council members discussed water and sewer tap fees of nearby municipalities and the last time Jay raised its rates. Councilwoman Janes Hayes and Jay Mayor Shon Owens agreed that they did not want to raise rates, but it was a necessary part of operating the town.
Owens made a motion to increase water deposit and water and sewer tap fees, which was seconded by Councilwoman Hayes. The motion carried unanimously.
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, July 15, at Jay town hall. The public is invited.
