Port Arthur — Port Arthur city council has approved residential and industrial/commercial water rate increases, with the future cost of major water and sewer infrastructure improvements estimated at about $1 billion.
Council unanimously approved a water and sewer rate increase of 5.6% for residential customers and 11.5% for industrial/commercial customers during its Tuesday meeting.
The increases will take effect in April and the average residential customer will pay about $5 more per month.
Council agreed the city must plan for the future and decide how to move forward on addressing the aging water infrastructure system. The massive project could take a decade or longer and cost about $1 billion
“We have a major issue,” said Councilman Donald Frank Sr. “It is major. To put a Band-Aid on a shotgun wound, we’re not there. We can’t just stick our thumb in the dike. This is a gaping hole in the infrastructure of our city.”
Mayor Thurman Bartie tells KFDM the water and sewer rate increase will prevent the city from using money out of the general fund this year.
“We need total water and sewer infrastructure replacement and drainage improvements,” said Bartie. “We spent more than $400,000 on emergency repairs. The rate increase is a catch up. Now we have to address the long-term issue.”
Consultant Dr. Hani Thome told council it’s critical to plan for the future.
“Not having capital improvement money available, but using emergency funds from the general fund is killing us,” said Dr. Thome. “If we have several more emergencies, it’s going to cost us a lot of money.”
Of the city’s 19,000 water and sewer accounts, 17,000 are residential.
Council says it’s aware the city has a number of senior citizens, and must take into account their ability to pay while making tough choices addressing future water infrastructure improvements.