Reporter Publisher
On Tuesday evening, the Noblesville Common Council approved an increase in wastewater and trash fees.
Noblesville residents will now pay a wastewater fee of $46.13, a $4.35 per month increase. Trash service will increase by $2.91 to $13.85 per month. The combined utility bill will now be $59.98.
According to Deputy Mayor Matt Light, the increase will set a four-year rate.
Information provided by Noblesville indicates that using the “Set It & Forget It” approach would avoid having an annual rate/fee increase and provides a savings over the traditional step-up rate over the same time period.
Light
“We worked to try to keep these costs low while also balancing the critical infrastructure needs identified by Noblesville Utilities Director Ray Thompson and his team,” Light said. “The rate increase allows the necessary cash reserves that keeps the city’s credit rating intact and keeps borrowing costs low, which saves taxpayers money in the long term.”
Noblesville is offering a hardship program that provides for $250,000 in credits in the wastewater program and another $115,000 in trash fees, which could benefit up to 2,778 residents if eligible.
To be granted a hardship credit, an owner-occupant must provide documentation to the Noblesville Utilities Department that they have filed for any of the following (and must affirm under penalties of perjury that the filing related to economic conditions caused in part by the public health emergency):
(a) Unemployment with the state Department of Workforce Development;
(b) Hardship accommodation with the Indiana Department of Revenue;
(c) Financial assistance with the township trustee; or
(d) Energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
This program runs six months starting with the September utility bill (and would run through the February utility bill).
Click here for more information about the hardship program.