Water rate increase ineffective

In April, the town council approved a water rate increase of three percent per year for five years, but Town Clerk Suzie Cox said the town has not been able to build up reserves and invest because of the no-reads occurring with the new water meters.

The extra revenue was supposed to be invested in the town’s Enterprise fund to provide money for repairs and improvement projects and make up for shortfalls the past few years.

According to an article in the Feb. 1, 2012, edition of the Sun, Town Engineer Chuck Bartlett said he hoped the increase would bring an extra $12,000 each month this year an...