Utility rates rising for water and sewer outside of Town limits
By Randy Arrington
STANLEY, June 18 — On Wednesday night, the Stanley Council unanimously approved the Town’s $2.6 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Overall, the upcoming budget represents a nearly 8-percent increase in spending over the current fiscal year, ending June 30. Those taking biggest hit will be county residents outside of the Town’s corporate limits who want to tap into into the municipality’s water and sewer service.
The Town of Stanley was recognized by the Virginia Rural Water Association in May for operating Virginia’s “Water System of the Year”. Now, neighboring county residents are going to pay a little more for that service. Minimum water rates for customers outside of Town limits will rise from $30 to $36 per month. Tap fees for water outside of Stanley will increase from $6,000 to $8,000 .
Sewer rate minimums are also rising for out-of-town tappers from $27 to $33 per month, and the per-hundred rate for outside sewer will increase from 20 cents per hundred to 30 cents per hundred. Outside sewer tap fees are increasing from $7,000 to $9,000.
Town residents who request water taps will see fees rise from $4,000 to $6,000 and sewer tap fees increase from $5,000 to $7,000. Zoning permit fees will rise from $25 to $50. Water Hauling rates will increase from $4 per 1,000 gallons to $6 per 1,000 gallons.
There were no increases to tax rates on real estate, personal property (vehicles), vehicle decals, business license, lodging or meals.
About 70 percent of the overall $185,125 increase in revenues for FY26 will come from increases to utility service fees. On the expense side, the new revenue seems to be spread out over General Administration (up about $77,000), Recreation (up about $38,000), Public Safety (up about $35,000), and Streets and Public Works (up about $29,000).
The Stanley Council held at public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget just prior to its June 11 regular meeting in the Stanley fire hall. There were no speakers.
In other business at its June 11 meeting, the Stanley Council took the following actions:
• Heard a report from Chase Louderback about septic issues at 321 Honeyville Road and neighboring properties. Louderback gave cost estimates for various options to upgrade the investment property by extending and tapping onto the Town system. He has been in talks with neighbors about sharing the cost, and requested that the Town considering concessions, such as waiving the tap fee (if he does it alone) or treating multiple (3) tap fees as one (if neighbors join in). Ultimately, the Council refrained from taking any action on the request and issued no waivers due to fear of setting a precedent, as other areas of the Town are experiencing similar issues (ie, Chapel Village).
• Heard a report that the Town Manager is still working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on potentially obtaining grants to provide sewer to the residents having trouble in the Chapel Village area.
• Heard a Police Report noting that there were 347 calls for service in May, with 264 of those calls being self-initiated and a total of 24 citations being written. The Stanley Police Department had planned to offer scholarships at LHS and PCHS in memory of Officer “Nic” Winum to graduating seniors going into public safety, but no applications were received.
• Heard a report that 327 individuals are registered and using the Town’s new alert system with Text.Gov
• Unanimously approved the Community Enhancement Award for Brandon and Chelse Wallace of 991 Aylor Grubbs Ave.
For more information on the Town of Stanley, CLICK HERE.
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
Stanley tapped as Virginia’s ‘Water System of the Year’
Coal Ridge Brewery draws dozens to opening
Be the first to comment