For the first time in 25 years, residents who live in the South and Center Sewer District will be having to pay more.

Tom Walsh, the director of the South and Center Sewer District, attended the Chautauqua County Legislature’s Public Facilities Committee meeting where he announced that rates are going up.

“The last time we raised the rates was in 2001,” he said, adding that in 2015 they standardized the rates.

In 2023, Walsh said they did a Phase I sewer extension, which was $930 a year.

Phase II was recently completed. Walsh said the rates for both Phase I and Phase II will now be $856 annually. For operation and maintenance, Walsh said customers will now pay $424 a year.

“That’s an increase of about $70,” he said.

Walsh said new regulations by the state are partly behind the latest increase. He also noted that some chemicals have increased as much as 100%. Still, Walsh felt the increase is reasonable.

“I mean, it is $17 a quarter,” he said.

Walsh also said their rates are still lower than the North Lake Sewer District.

“We’re still $100 less than them,” he said.

After his presentation, the Public Facilities Committee unanimously approved the resolution for the new rates. The full legislature still has to vote at its meeting Wednesday, July 22.

Should the full legislature give final approval, the new rates are expected to take effect Aug. 1.