Albion will increase water bills significantly to village, towns and prisons

Village Board cuts proposed increase to towns by 5 percent

Photos by Jim Scibetta, owner of Helpee Selfee Laundromat, said the increases will have to be passed on to his customers, who he said are already struggling to pay their bills. He is shown addressing village trustees, from left: Joyce Riley, William Gabalski, Greg Bennett and Tim McMurray.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board approved increases in the water rates and administrative costs, changes that will bring in much needed revenue for upgrades to the water treatment plant and distribution system.

Water rates will go up 25 percent for customers in the village and the prisons beginning on Jan. 1, and then will increase another 20 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

“This was not done thoughtlessly,” said Village Trustee Joyce Riley during a public hearing on higher rates. “It’s after years of neglecting our water plant. If this board doesn’t make (the changes), it only gets worse down the road.”

Greg Bennett, the deputy mayor, said the increased rates and fees are needed “for the village to maintain ourself.”

The Village Board was going to charge the towns the same percentage increase, but backed off to a 20 percent increase next year, and then a 15 percent increase. Some of the towns pushed back on the proposed increase, saying it would force them to look closely at possibly switching to the Monroe County Water Authority as a water supplier.

The village bills for about 110 million gallons of water each quarter with approximately 33 million gallons within the village, 63 million for the towns and 15 million used by the two state prisons.

RATE HIKES FOR VILLAGE CUSTOMERS – Residents and businesses inside the village currently pay a $3.90 rate per 1,000 gallons of water. That will go to $4.88 beginning Jan. 1, and then $5.85 beginning in 2027.

The current rate generates $520,048 from customers within the village. That will go to a projected $650,061 next year and then $780,073 in 2027.

ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE – The board also is raising the quarterly administrative charge by 55 percent the first year for customers within the village, and then another 40 percent in 2027. That will increase the administrative or base charge from the current $33.60 for most village customers to $52.08 beginning Jan. 1, and then $72.91 the following year.

Just the change in the administrative fee will raise nearly $200,000 more in the water fund the first year. The village’s water fund  currently receives $359,221 through the base charges. That is projected to go to $556,793 in 2026 and then $779,510 in 2027.

RATE HIKE FOR TOWNS – The towns that buy water directly from the village currently pay a $3.57 rate. There is no administrative charge from the village. The towns add their own administrative charge.

The rate will go to $4.28 next year and then $4.93 in 2027. The towns currently pay the village $894,284 for water, and that is projected to increase to $1,073,141 in 2026 and then $1,234,111 in 2027.

The water tank is shown along Route 31 near the Albion and Orleans correctional facilities. The Village Board last week approved raising the water rates for the two prisons by 25 percent next year, and then another 20 percent in 2027. The water rate for the prisons will go from the current $4.65 per 1,000 gallons to $5.81 and then $6.98.

PRISON RATE – The two state prisons are currently billed at a rate of $4.65 per 1,000 gallons. That will go to $5.81 in 2026 and then $6.98 in 2027.

The prisons currently pay $278,045 for water. That is projected to increase to $347,556 in 2026, and then $417,067 in 2027.

TOTAL REVENUE – The current water fund is on pace to bring in $2,195,250 this year. However, the expenses are at $2,639,864. That will require the village to take $444,614 from the fund balance that is set aside in the water fund. That fund balance is currently at about $700,000.

In 2026, the total revenue goes to $2,635,831, with expenses at $3,021,857. With increased rates and fees next year, plus the start of paying debt for recent water system improvements, the village will still need to use $386,025 in fund balance in 2026.

Beginning in 2027, the rates and fees are projected to cover the total expenses with the water fund, with the revenue $47,749 over expenses. The total revenue is projected at $3,220,699 with expenses at $3,172,950.

The Village Board doesn’t expect a big rate hike will be needed after 2027.

During a public hearing last Wednesday, Jim Scibetta, owner of the Helpee Selfee Laundromat, said the higher water costs come at a time when he’s facing increases in electricity and natural gas.

“You’re proposing this kind of water increase to me is legalized robbery,” he told the board. “I’m disgusted and I will probably sell my laundromat because of you people.”

Village Board members said Albion’s water bills still will be less costly than many other communities in the region.

The average village water customer of about 15,000 gallons per quarter will see their water bills go from $92.10 per quarter in 2025 to $125.21 in 2026 and then $160.66 in 2027.

SEWER BILL – The water bill for village customers also includes the sewer bill. The board last week voted to increase the base charge for sewer customers in the village, while keeping the rate the same at $4.25 per 1,000 gallons.

The base charge will increase from $26 per quarter for most customers to $33.60 per quarter. The higher base rate will raise another $81,086 for the sewer fund, increasing administrative revenue from $273,847 in 2025 to a projected $354,933 in 2026.

That increase in revenue will allow the village to build reserves for the sewer fund, board members said.