Orem increases water rates to fund work on sewer lines

OREM — New sewer lines are the big issue on the minds of Orem leaders, and now they have a way to pay for it.

The almost $70 million budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year, adopted Tuesday night by Orem City Council, proposes an increase in the water reclamation, or sewer rates, to fund repairs and construction of new lines for the city.

The adjustment breaks down to an extra $1.50 per month per water account and an extra 17 cents per 1,000 gallons of use. So, those who use more water pay a little more. With almost 20,000 water accounts in the city, the yearly earning from the tax would come to just above $800,000 — enough to make a dent in the pipe issue.

The current sewer pipe, which services almost two-thirds of Orem and runs east to west under I-15, is becoming corroded, said Jim Reams, Orem city manager, during the budget discussion Tuesday night.

"If we were to lose that line, it would be a serious challenge," he said. "We need the redundancy of two lines."

Work on the second line should begin by the end of June and be finished by the end of the summer, he said.

The pipe-related tax in- crease isn't really an increase though, city officials said. Due to problems with previous water meter readings only twice a year, officials had miscounted the thousands of gallons used by residents. Thus, payments were lower and the city was losing thousands of dollars in revenue. But with more frequent meter checks, the city has more correctly estimated usage levels and must charge the extra pennies in order to get back to the revenue level they were operating at in 2001.

Orem resident Bob Wright has been coming to budget meetings for almost 25 years and said he was pleased with the thorough report, but opposed the tax increase.

"Mr. Wright is focused on the right issue," said Reams in response to the concern about the pipes and the tax increase. "We just don't know a better solution."

Other less-debated budget issues were the proposed face-lift for the city's 30-year-old library, including new lighting, heating and air conditioning, as well as updating the building to seismic code. It will also get a Web technician and another library employee.

Fire Station No. 1 in Orem will also be renovated, with special attention to the living quarters of firefighters, providing more privacy for the men and women on the force. The station will be seismically updated as well.

Other proposed expenditures: The police force will get three new officers, Sharon Park will get a new pavilion and Mt. Timpanogos Park will get a house for a park care- taker.

The almost $70 million budget is lower than last year's $87 million, but only because last year's had one-time road and other bonds.

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