Gainesboro Water Rate Increase Helps Address Water Loss And Debt Issues

Town of Gainesboro is once again updating its water rate schedule.

Mayor Lloyd Williams said the town has done a two percent increase for at least the past eight years. He said the town was directed by the state comptroller’s office to address water loss issues.

“We had to come up with a plan to get us out of debt, so we came up with a plan, two percent every year to keep us out,” Williams said. “And right now, our water, we’re doing really well with it. I know nobody likes to raise taxes so we tried to do it the easiest we could, two percent every year, it just keeps us above float.”

Williams said before the increases started, the city had a water loss of about 55 percent. He said this past month had been one of the best when it comes to the city’s water revenue with a loss of about 24 percent.

Williams said the extra income allows Gainesboro to reinvest in its older water lines and fix the water loss issues. He said the town continues to do what it can to improve water loss and get out of that debt.

“When I first came into office we were losing money on water and the comptroller said we had to come up with a plan,” Williams said. “(…) So that 24 percent may sound like a lot but it’s really a big improvement for us.”