2021 RATE SCHEDULE

The Tuscarawas County Metropolitan Sewer District (“District”) is responsible for both the County’s Sewer District and Water District.  The Sewer District and Water District are comprised of many Sub-Districts located throughout Tuscarawas County.  The Sewer District and the Water District are each distinct and separate enterprises operating under the authority of the Board of Commissioners, Tuscarawas County, Ohio (“Board”) in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Sections 6103 and 6117.  The District operates under the supervision of the Sanitary Engineer, who is appointed by the Board.

User charges collected from monthly rates, tap-in fees, permit fees, penalty fees and other miscellaneous charges are intended to be the sole source of revenue used to fund the operation and maintenance of the County’s water and sewer facilities.  As resolved by the Board, the Sanitary Engineer is required to conduct a rate study as part of the annual budget preparation. 

It is essential to regularly evaluate water and sewer rates to determine the needed revenue to account for normal inflationary increases for equipment, utilities, materials and contract services, increases in wages, benefits, health insurance; increases in charges from regulatory agencies and mandatory staffing requirements.

Also critical in ensuring long-term quality of service and regulatory compliance, it is important to generate adequate revenue to fund system reserves and set aside funds for future capital needs.  Setting these funds aside is important so that the District has the financial stability necessary to properly execute the planning, design and construction of capital improvements, such as system rehabilitation/replacement or expansion of facilities in a proactive manner.

We are proposing an adjustment to the County’s sewer rates for 2021.  The adjustments are included on the attached “Proposed Rate Adjustments” and will modify the typical monthly residential flat rate from $41.27 to $42.51.

According to the most recently published Ohio EPA Rate Survey, sewer rates across Ohio have increased an average of 3.86% for the past 20 years.  We project that the median annual sewer rate in Ohio will be $801 in 2021.  By comparison, the District’s proposed sewer rate for 2021 will be $662 per year[1].

We are also proposing an adjustment to the County’s water rates for 2021.  The adjustments are included on the attached “Proposed Rate Adjustments” and will modify the average monthly residential rate from $44.08 to $45.40.

According to the most recently published Ohio EPA Rate Survey, water rates across Ohio have increased an average of 3.77% for the past 20 years.  We project that the median annual water rate in Ohio will be $748 in 2021.  By comparison, the District’s proposed sewer rate for 2021 will be $759 per year[1].

We are also proposing minor changes to several ancillary charges, as well as our connection fees, which are shown in the attached “Proposed Rate Adjustments”.  The changes to the connection fees are to account for normal inflationary increases in equipment, materials, supplies and contract services.

[1] Values are based on monthly usage of 7,756 gallons