City's Bus, Water-Sewer Rates On the Rise

Come this fall, Long Beach residents will find they’ll have to pay costlier water and sewer bills, and starting next month bus commuters must drop more money in fare boxes.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to raise the water and sewer rates that will cost residents an average of $72 more per year for the combined services. Council members also approved, by a vote of 3-2, a 50 cents fare hike on two bus routes.

The new water-sewer rates take effect on July 1, the start of the 2012-13 fiscal year, and residents will start to pay the higher costs on after their quarterly bill arrives in October.

Before Tuesday’s vote, City Manager Jack Schnirman offered a brief presentation on the water-sewer funds, noting that like other funds in the city’s budget in which expenditures have exceeded revenues, the increases are needed in order to make up for about a $2.5 million deficit that started mounting in 2008.

“Unfortunately, our water and sewer funds have not been in balance over a period of years,” Schnirman said. “It’s essentially run, just like the other funds are run, in deficit.”

Michael Fagen was the lone council member to vote against the water-sewer increase.

Meanwhile, fares for buses on the Long Beach system will jump from $1.50 to $2 a ride, while rides to Point Lookout go from $2 to $2.50, the first increase on the city’s bus system since 2004. The fare hikes start on July 1.

“It should be noted that this additional revenue … will go to offset the city’s 10 percent match on all projects and assist with maintaining the city’s buses,” Schnirman said.

The city essentially breaks even on its bus system, which receives approximately $75,000 annually from Nassau County to run the two routes that generate about $76,000. City Comptroller Jeff Nogid said that the money goes to supply new buses when needed, equipment, maintenance and other costs.

Resident Larry Benowitz estimated that the salaries of the four bus drivers raise costs to the city by about $160,000, as well as costs associate with everything from health care to pensions. “Yet we’re thrilled with getting $75,000 back,” said Benowitz, who suggested that the Point Lookout route should be terminated. “Tell the county to take it and eat it.”

Both John McLaughlin and Fagen voted against the bus fare increase.