MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, June 5, 2009 11:28 am

Murfreesboro’s tax rate might stay the same, but sewer rates and fees are going up.

The city council unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday night that will keep the property tax at $1.40 per $100 of assessed value for the 15th straight year.

“On first reading and this is subject to anything else we do in the hearings,” Mayor Tommy Bragg explained.

The ordinance must passed the council three times to become law and the council must complete its review of the proposed budget by July 1. The council also unanimously passed two ordinances that will increase the cost of flushing the toilet and making late payments to the water department. “The sewer increase is required to make our budget balanced,”

Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department Director Joe Kirchner said. Kirchner said the increases to sewer rates and disconnection fees with add $2.5 million to the department’s budget.

Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Board recommended raising the rates to pay off current and future debt from improvements to the system. According to the ordinance, the sewer rate will increase 60 cents from $2.74 to $3.34 per 100 cubic feet and the operation fee will increase 20 cents from 70 cents to 90 cents.

The average ratepayer uses 600 cubic feet per month and will see a $3.58 increase to the monthly bill, he added. The second ordinance will increase initiation, returned check and reconnection fees. The cost of starting service will rise to $50 for same day connection and $40 for any day after.The return check fee will be increased to $30.

The reconnection fee for delinquent accounts will be increased to $40 for reconnection during regular business hours and $75 for after hours. The fee and rate increases will go to effect July 1, if passed three times by the city council.

Other council business:

- Unanimously passed on third and final reading an ordinace to rezone an area west of Dill Lane to Planned Residential Development (PRD) District.

- Unanimously passed on third and final reading an ordinance amending the appendix of the zoning code, pertaining to definitions and charts, updating terms, reorganizing and renumbering existing text, and other amendments.

- Unanimously passed on second reading an ordinance amending Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 8-Cemeteries, Sections 8-2, 8-3 and 8-5, reducing the percentage of proceeds placed in the perpetual trust fund, modifying scheduling requirements and clarifying the provisions.

- Unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance to annex an area located along DeJarnette Lane and to adopt for same a Plan of Services. (Public Hearing held 4/2/09)

- Unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance to annex an area located along Manchester Highway and to adopt for same a Plan of Services. (Public Hearing held 4/2/09)

- Unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance to amend 183.33 acres zoned Planned Residential Development (PRD) District located along Fortress Boulevard. (Public Hearing 6/18/09)

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.