DOVER (WJER) - Council has approved sewer rates for new customers outside the city that will increase three dollars each January over the next five years. 

The rates will start at about $55 a month – which is what city customers pay – and top off at $69 a month. City administrators recommended the $69 amount after Dover took over about 300 new accounts as the result of a settlement with the county. City officials said the county had been undercharging them at $39 per month, while residents argued a $30 increase was too steep. Council President Shane Gunnoe says they considered several factors.

“How much it would bring in in a month versus the amount of expenses that we’re likely to incur taking those 300 new customers on in addition to what we thought people could reasonably afford that wouldn’t be overly burdensome."

He says they decided a gradual increase over five years was a fair solution.

“Even $69 was a $30 a month increase right off the bat. I thought that was too high too fast and so we worked to try and find a compromise."        

The new $55 rate starts in October. Rates for customers outside the city will increase in January every year until 2025.

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