Brockport sets sewer rent resolution

It was the matter protocol and procedure that the residents questioned at Monday, May 3's, public hearing on the Village of Brockport official's proposal for "considering and imposing sewer rents." The fees for the sewer rents and the establishment of a sewer district were figured into the village's 2004-2005 budget which was passed on April 26.

"The establishment of a sewer fund is for the purpose of hiding 12 percent of the tax rate increase," taxpayer Bill Webber said. He questioned why the village had managed to maintain its sewer system for the past 100 years without the imposition of a sewer rental fee. "This sets a dangerous precedent - you could raise the rental fee every year. There are ways to find money without adding a sewer tax."

As part of the budget proceedings, village officials had determined that the village needed to establish a sewage management, or sewer rental fee, of 80 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used. It is estimated that a single family home would use 75,000 gallons of water a year and their annual fee would be $60. Village officials say the sewer fee is necessary because the village's 100-year-old system needs updating and repair.

Linda Borrayo took the podium and once again told village officials she was against the sewer tax. "It's already in the budget and it's a waste of my time to say this because it's after the fact but I am against this sewer tax."

Taxpayer Tony Perry echoed Borrayo's sentiments. "I'm not sure why we have this time to speak," he said. "We had time a few weeks ago but the village passed the budget without our input. It's not fun to get up here and talk to the officials when our concerns are not addressed."

Perry reiterated that the sewer fee is not a rent, it's a tax. "There was manipulation of line items and self borrowing within the budget," he said. "Having a public hearing after the adoption of this sewer tax is a joke."

The resolution was passed unanimously with the first sewer rent coming due on July 1, 2004. The fee would be based on the usage from past years.