BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) - Binghamton Mayor Rich David doesn’t expect city sewer rates to increase in 2020. That's despite a major rebuild at the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.
David made the announcement as part of his proposed city budget. He said sewer rates have increased in recent years and could still go up once construction on the plant is complete.
"But you know once this project is done, you’re not going to see major rate increases forever," David said. "You’re going to see it over a several-year period and then it should level off.”
Due to delays in the sewer project, it has been saddled with $15,000 in fines per month from New York Department of Conservation. On top of those fines, the project was facing an additional penalty of $37,500 per-violation, per-day if it didn't meet an August 31st deadline. Managers running the project say that deadline was met, so the fines weren't levied.
The Binghamton-Johnson City plant is Broome County’s main sewage treatment facility, serving several municipalities. David said rate increases will differ from community to community. He adds it will be worth it in the long-term. "We are literally rehabilitating the entire plant and addressing all of the many, many deficiencies that have gone unaddressed for several decades."
The $275 million construction project is scheduled to be done in April 2020.