Fairburn City Council May 22 voted to increase water rates in response to the 11 percent price hike announced by the city of Atlanta. Fairburn’s increase will only affect water usage in excess of 2,000 gallons.

In a report to the council, City Administrator Jim Williams cited Atlanta’s ongoing struggle with long overdue repairs to its sewer system. Those repairs now come with a cost to the city in the form of an 11 percent increase beginning in July.

“Those repairs resulted in significant increases in property taxes and in the services provided,” he said. “As of July the rate they will be charging us will increase by 11 percent. But they were projecting a 16-18 percent increase.”

Atlanta sells treated water wholesale to Fairburn.

Williams recommended an increase to city customers that would not affect the base water usage of up to 2,000 gallons per month. The base price for that service is $21.75.

His proposal included water usage over the 2,000-gallon threshold with a current price of $3.96 per 1,000 gallons going to $4.40 per 1,000 gallons, a difference of 11 percent. The rate hike will take effect after July 1.

Responding to a question from the board, Williams said sewer rates charged by Atlanta were not affected.

Council members voted 5-0 in favor of the increase, though several expressed regret at having been put in the position to raise water rates.

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