THOMASTON PROPOSES UTILITY HIKES

DURING A BUDGET WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, THOMASTON'S CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY PROPOSED INCREASING ELECTRICAL AND WATER AND SEWER RATES EFFECTIVE JAN IST. THE MANAGER TOLD THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, HE SUGGESTS A TWO YEAR PHASE-IN FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS AND A THREE YEAR FOR INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, SOLO CUP AND TEN CATE. RESIDENTIAL POWER RATES WOULD INCREASE 6 ½ %, COMMERCIAL RATES 5 1/2% IN 2011 AND 2012. THE INDUSTRIES WOULD EXPERIENCE A DOUBLE DIP HIKE OVER THREE YEARS. . WATER AND SEWER RATES WOULD INCREASE $5 PER MONTH FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER IN 2011 AND 2012. ACCORDING TO SURVEYS, THE CITY OF THOMASTON HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST POWER RATES IN THE STATE , BUT ITS WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLIER , MEAG IS FACING A $250 MILLION BUDGET INCREASE DUE TO PROJECTS, AND CITY HALL'S PORTION IS A MILLION. OTHER MEAG CITIES SUCH AS GRIFFIN AND MARIETTA ARE ALSO MOVING ON RATE HIKES. THE  MANAGER SAID WATER SALES ARE DOWN 17% DUE TO THE LOSS OF INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AND THE COUNTY IS NOT BUYING NEAR AS MUCH SINCE IT DRILLED WELLS IN WESTERN UPSON. THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE WOULD ALSO AFFECT COUNTY WATER CUSTOMERS SERVED BY THE CITY UNLESS THE COUNTY ABSORBS THEM. CITY MANAGER COMISKEY IS ALSO PROPOSING TO CLOSE THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, AND THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION WOULD NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.