A Flushing Fee for Scarsdale Residents?

The expression "flushing your money down the toilet" may soon have new meaning to Scarsdale residents. According to Mayor Miriam Flisser the Scarsdale Board of Trustees is now considering imposing new fees on sewer usage. Currently residents receive a quarterly bill for water usage and this new fee would be an additional line on that invoice for usage of the Village sanitary sewer system. The Mayor estimated that for an average household the fee would be about $60 per year and $360 per year for commercial establishments. The Mayor made her remarks at a meeting of the Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents (SNAP) on Monday night February 25.

The Village is faced with a projected $2.5 million shortfall in the Village budget and an antiquated sanitary sewer system in need of repair. The Mayor said that during big rainstorms there is sometimes backflow from the sewage systems into the storm water system, causing residents to find raw sewage in their streets and basements. The system dates back to the 1920''s and 1930's and needs to be repaired.

According to a press release from the Village dated February 27, "The sanitary sewer system consists of 85 miles of sanitary sewer pipes, the majority of which were installed in the 1920s and 30s which now require an increasing amount of maintenance and repairs. This maintenance and repair work includes cleaning sewer lines of obstructions and televising to inspect for structural integrity, cracks, tree root infiltration and other problems. Compromised pipes are treated with a cured-in- place liner to extend their useful life or sections of pipe are removed and repaired as needed. The Village spends roughly $300,000 annually in operating and capital expenses to operate, maintain and improve the sanitary sewer system."

At the Village Board meeting on February 26, Trustee Bob Steves explained that the fee would be 30 cents per 100 cubic feet of water and the revenues from this "sewer rental fee" would be used to maintain and remediate the sewer system. All water customers in the Village, including non-profits, would be required to pay this additional fee which should bring in approximately $400,000 in revenues to the Village.

This sewer fee is just one measure under consideration for cutting costs and increasing revenues. The Board also discussed cutting their funding to the Teen Center, doing away with the July 4th fireworks show at the Scarsdale Pool and cancelling the summer band concerts in the Village. However, these measures would have little impact on the budget shortfall and Trustees thought these cuts would be very unpopular with residents.

One SNAP meeting attendant voiced his concern about prospective fees for sewer usage saying, "Where does this stop? Do we tax people for road usage based on the number of cars they own? Do we charge parents for school tax based on the number of children they have in school? If we start with the water, where does it end?"

The Village Board will hold a hearing on a new resolution to establish sanitary sewer rent fees on March 12 at 8 pm at Scarsdale Village Hall.

Here are comments from Mayor Miriam Flisser made at the Scarsdale Village Board Meeting on Tuesday night February 26:

The Village Board continues to work on the budget, and invites you to a presentation of the operating budget on Feb 27 at 7 pm, and the capital budget on Wednesday March 6 at 7 pm. Please note that we welcome input on the budget from all residents, but to date, the only input that we have received is on behalf of preserving programs in the Village. The Village Board reviewed the costs of the annual 4th of July fireworks, and the Band Concert program, but decided that these events held too much community significance to be cancelled. We are considering removing the traffic police from the Popham/Garth intersection when the lights are completed to save overtime costs.

A sewer usage fee, base on water consumption, is mentioned in tonight's agenda. The fee will raise the approximately $400k needed for sewer repair this year. The fee added is minimal for families who limit their usage to household water consumption, but increases for residents who maintain irrigation on their properties. The increased fee for irrigation water is also an incentive to review planting plans to reduce water consumptions. There will be a public hearing about the dedicated sewer fee on March 12 at the next Village Board meeting.

Also, the Law and Land Use Committee will meet tomorrow at 6PM to discuss changes in the Historic Preservation Code Chapter 182. The consideration of establishment of Historic Districts will be considered, and questions of Owner consent for designation will be raised. Preservationists and Property Rights Advocates are all invited to attend as we discuss this important issue for Scarsdale.

Finally, at a meeting of the Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents last evening, a presentation from Chief Tom Cain of the Scarsdale Fire Department, reminded residents that winter safety includes smoke detectors on every level of the house, plus one in each bedroom. Chief Cain reviewed cases where the lives of homeowners were saved due to the detection of smoke by these devices, which need to have their batteries changed yearly.