Rensselaer County lawmakers to consider three-year sewer rate increase
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Rensselaer County lawmakers to consider three-year sewer rate increase By Benny Nezaj WNYT Proposed sewer rate schedule RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. (WNYT) – A proposed three-year sewer rate increase is raising questions from a local community group ahead of a Rensselaer County Legislature meeting Tuesday evening. Related: Residents complain of strong sewage smell in Brunswick & Troy The proposed schedule would increase the rate from $4.20 to $4.96 per 1,000 gallons in 2027 — an increase of about 18%. Rates would then rise to $5.26 in 2028 and $5.58 in 2029, representing a cumulative increase of about 33% over three years. The sewer district says the additional revenue is needed to offset rising expenditures and cover district costs, including debt service. Questions raised over proposed sewer rate increase But Troy Indivisible is questioning why the increase is necessary and how the additional revenue would be used. The group pointed to the county executive’s proposed 2027 budget, which lists sewer rent revenue at $11 million — the same amount budgeted for 2026. Jim Mounteer, the group’s events chair, said members want county officials to provide more details about the expenses driving the increase, including equipment purchases, repairs and other projects. “What things are we buying, fixing, repairing, whatever? How is it being used and why are we getting an 18 percent increase now? I mean, it seems very large,” Mounteer said. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has pushed back against the group’s questions about the potential use of sewer revenue. In a statement, McLaughlin said sewer district funds are legally separate from the county’s General Fund and cannot be used to support the county budget or its property tax rate reduction. He called the group’s claims misinformation and demanded a retraction of its social media post. The Rensselaer County Legislature is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the County Government Offices in East Greenbush, where lawmakers are expected to consider the proposed three-year sewer rate schedule.