PRESS RELEASE 

TOWN OF CHATHAM  

16 COURT PL, PO BOX 370 

The Water, Sewer, Solid Waste Committee met on April 18, 2024, to discuss the proposed water/sewer Enterprise System budget submission for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025. This Fiscal Year starts on 1 July 2024.  The Committee received information from the Finance Committee that the projected shortfall in water/sewer revenue has decreased from the previously announced $560,000 to $444,179 due to updated revenue numbers.  

Several items were acted on to be forwarded to the Town Council for consideration. 1)The Committee recommended expenditures not to exceed $12000 to replace the 18-year-old water meter for Green Rock Correctional Center. 2)The Committee recommended that the projected revenue shortfall be covered by using existing Enterprise funds and deferring water/sewer revenue to the Town Operations side of the budget. 3)The Committee recommended that the annual proposed 24-25 budget advertisement be broken down on two distinct pages; the Water/Sewer Enterprise budget and the Town Operations budget.  These should be placed side-by-side in the advertisements and announcements.3) The Committee recommended inflationary index increases to water, sewer, and lawn sprinkler rates. If enacted by the Town Council the rates will increase by 3.5% for in town rates, 10% for out-of-town rates, and change from $.oo8/gal to $.01/gal for irrigation meters. The average in-town-bill will increase by $4.53 per quarter if this increase is enacted.