Naches utility rates expected to increase in 2010

NACHES -- Utility rates are expected to increase next year under the budget plan developed by the Naches Town Council.

The increases are calculated to bump up rates by less than $5 for the average residential and commercial customer, officials said.

Town Administrator Jeff Ranger said Waste Management, the contractor that provides the town's garbage service, requested the 3 percent increase in the garbage rate to cover a fee hike imposed by Yakima County, which operates the Terrace Heights dump.

The budget also reflects a 2 percent increase in the water rate and 6 percent for the sewer rate, in order to cover increasing costs of providing those services, Ranger said.

Other minor increases include scheduled salary adjustments in union contracts and extra money for legal services and law enforcement by the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, clerk-treasurer Tanya Luke said.

The town's proposed current expense budget, which covers most of the town's daily operations, totals $817,000, up from $761,000 for 2009.

The council is scheduled to adopt the budget at its Dec. 14 meeting. A final public hearing will be held at the same meeting.