Ratepayers of the Brick Towship Municipal Utilities Authority will not see their water and sewer rates rise for 2013, Commissioner Jim Fozman said.
Fozman, who also serves on the township council, said he and fellow commissioner George Cevasco worked with Chief Financial Officer Frank Planko to find savings at the regional water and sewer authority.
As a result, rates will not rise this year, he said.
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"We managed to come up with a zero percent rate increase," said Fozman. "That was really big. It's the first time in years we've had no increase."
Fozman said the bulk of the savings was generated by reducing the utility's five year plan budget by $2 million and using funds dedicated to specific projects or sites – such as the reservoir on Sally Ike Road – for those projects or sites only, rather than dipping into the general fund for routine spending.
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"We sat down with the department heads and went over it line by line," said Fozman. "We went through it thoroughly and found every cost cutting measure we could find."
"That is a big accomplishment," said Councilman John Ducey at Tuesday night's township council meeting. "We haven't had a zero in how many years, if ever, and to see that go through, it is very very exciting."
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