Tax rate steady; water bills rising

AIKEN - Taxpayers will get their first look at the city's proposed $43.1 million budget for 2006-07 at tonight's city council meeting.

Council members will vote on first reading of an ordinance to adopt next year's budget and to set the millage at 71 mills. This millage would mark the 18th straight year without an increase, according to city documents.

The same cannot be said of water and sewer rates, however. The council will also vote on the first reading of an ordinance to raise the rates by 4 percent.

This would result in an average monthly increase of $1.35 in combined water and sewer rates for city residents, according to documents.

Aiken officials said the city has not increased water and sewer rates in more than three years. In addition, officials said, the city has absorbed a 15 percent rate increase for sewage treatment at the Aiken County Public Service Authority and a rate increase of about 28 percent from South Carolina Electric & Gas.

The city also plans to move forward with 1-cent sales tax capital projects such as building a new public safety station on the south side of the city, updating water and sewer lines, installing a drainage system in Hitchcock Woods and constructing a connector road between Pawnee and Neilson streets.

Assistant City Manager Bill Huggins said the connector road will run along the edge of Hitchcock Plaza.

"The city agreed to improve that road as part of the redevelopment of that area," he said.

Where does the money go?

Major expenditures under the proposed budget include:
- More than $100,000 in planning studies
- $50,000 for green space
- $75,000 for new sidewalks along University Parkway or Gregg Avenue, north of Richland Avenue
- More than $600,000 for public works solid waste equipment
- $750,000 for increases in benefits and rising insurance costs
- $200,000 for renovations to Rye Patch
- $50,000 for facade grant improvements
- $477,000 for north side development
Source: City of Aiken