Douglas said every home and apartment is charged the same rate, even if it’s vacant, because the utilities are still connected and can be used at any time.

She said the hike was foreseen several years ago when the town starting drawing on reserve funds to temporarily lower the rates, with the community understanding that the normal rates would return when the reserve funds dried up.

Officials began slowly drawing on the water reserve in 2005, hoping it would keep rates as low as possible for years to come.

But at a budget hearing two years later, Douglas said, Lyon Mountain residents voiced strong opposition to the slower reduction and wanted an immediate drop.

The Town Council consented, leading to a drastic two-year decrease that depleted the reserve and brought the regular rates back this year.

She said the town has always tried to keep rates as low as possible and that the entire Town Council closely watches every penny being spent.

“In such precarious financial times, we feel as a board we do everything possible to monitor all spending throughout the township.”

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com