Latrobe sewage rate hike could add to Unity authority customer bills in 2022

Unity Township Municipal Authority will pay more for sewage it sends to Latrobe for treatment.

The authority expects it will be able to handle that unanticipated expense this year, but it could affect a rate hike being eyed for Unity customers in 2022.

Like other customers whose sewage is treated by Latrobe Municipal Authority, the Unity authority faces a jump in rates beginning in April.

The Latrobe authority is increasing its usage fee per 1,000 gallons, from $2.50 to $3. A monthly fee to cover administrative and operational expenses also will go up, from $6.50 to $7.

Those rate increases are expected to cost the Unity authority an additional $125,000 this year, according to the authority’s operations manager, Doug Pike.

“We certainly didn’t budget for that, but I think we can absorb that number,” he told the authority board this week.

Pike said the higher Latrobe fees could affect a potential rate increase for Unity customers next year.

“We did talk about having a rate increase in 2022 ,” he said, noting Unity officials will have “some time to see where we stand and recalculate that.

“Based on our initial projections, looking at what we need for the next 10 years, most likely we’ll be recommending a rate increase for 2022.”

Pike said it’s too soon to cite a likely figure for a rate increase.

Unity authority board member Mike O’Barto spoke out against the possible hike.

“I’ll probably not vote to raise any rates,” he said. “I feel our customers are paying enough.

“We’re going to have to look at it as best we can” and “see how we can either pare it down or how we can save money.”

The Unity authority currently charges its sewage customers a monthly usage rate of $6.80 per 1,000 gallons and a monthly debt service fee of $29.75. Those rates have been unchanged since December 2014.