WEST CAPE MAY — Facing a $210,000 shortfall in the borough’s water/sewer utility budget, rates will be raised nearly 22 percent.

At a March 25 Borough Commission meeting, Mayor Pamela Kaithern said she worked with the borough’s auditor, tax collector, public works and water/sewer departments to keep a rate increase as small as possible. She said water rates have not been increased in 11 years and sewer rates in 15 years.
The mayor said the water/sewer rates should have been increased over the years to prevent the current shortfall.

She said the minimum quarterly charge for use of up to 6,000 gallons would increase to $85.
For each 1,000 gallons of water used in excess of the minimum quarterly allowance, the rate would rise from $7.20 to $9.50.

Kaithern said the rate was structured so those who using the minimum amount of water are not bearing the same increase as those using more water.

“It’s a bit of a gamble for the borough because if people cut their consumption, we may not generate the revenues that we need to but we believe we’ve built it so we should be ok,” she said.

The water/sewer cannot run a deficit under state law, said Kaithern

The borough will begin a quarterly charge for homes with fire suppression systems of $12.50. Water connected to fire suppression systems is not connected to a meter.
Kaithern said the charge would cover the amount of water used during regular tests of a property owner’s fire suppression system. She said there would be no fee for water used to put out a fire in a structure.
Hundreds of gallons of water are used during fire suppression system testing.

Annual sewer rates for a single-family residences were set a $451.40. That fee also applies to the first unit of an apartment house with additional units costing $353.80.
Kaithern said she realized the increase comes at a difficult time.

A public hearing on the ordinances will be held April 22 at 1 p.m.

Water/sewer shortfalls are occurring throughout the county. The City of Cape May is raising water/sewer rates by 25 percent while Sea Isle City rates are increasing by 15 percent and Wildwood by 8.8 percent.