West Virginia City OK's Higher Sewer Rates

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An increase in sewer rates has been approved by a West Virginia city council.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports sewer rates are expected to rise 16 percent in Dunbar after the City Council approved raising them during a meeting Monday.

Mayor Bill Cunningham says the old rates were based on a larger gallon usage. He says the average person usage has dropped from 4,000 gallons to 3,200 gallons per month, creating an $800 shortfall.

Cunningham says the sanitary board had been losing about $10 per customer per month based on the city’s budget of what should be expected to come in.