CUMBERLAND — Despite pushback from local residents, city officials moved forward a plan to raise water and sewer bills starting July 1.
The mayor and City Council on Tuesday approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase costs by 8% for water and 11% for sewer.
Without the increases, the water and sewer funds would reach negative cash flow levels of $698,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, according to Cumberland Comptroller Mark Gandolfi.
For the average 3,000 gallon-per-month water bill in the city, the new rate means roughly $2.50 more, and about a $3.70 increase for residents outside Cumberland limits.
The mayor and City Council in June unanimously approved a water rate increase from $6.77 to $8.12 for the first 748 gallons for residents inside Cumberland limits.
In terms of the higher sewer rate, under the 3,000-gallon average monthly consumption scenario, city residents will pay an extra $4.25, and outside residents will see about a $6.40 increase.
The city last raised sewer rates in 2015.
Pine Avenue resident and Cumberland mayoral candidate William Taccino asked city officials how they can collect fees for the portion of the sewer system, which serves his home, that he alleges fails to comply with state and federal codes.
“Actually, you shouldn’t be charging anything for this,” he said. “Now we’re getting an increase.”
Taccino said the sewer system flooded his home, which prompted the state to label it a hotspot, and added he has documentation from the Maryland Department of the Environment.
“This is illegal,” he said.
City resident David Biser said many local residents struggle to make ends meet, and warned the higher rates could discourage new folks from moving to Cumberland.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people that are worried,” he said.
“If you want people to move into the city, do whatever you can to keep from raising those rates.”
Mayor Ray Morriss said Cumberland has “the lowest water rates of any municipality in the region.”
The rate increases are expected to be passed as part of the budget adoption in the near future.
In other business, city officials:
• Agreed to sell two water quality bonds that total roughly $2.5 million to finance the Evitts Creek wastewater system project.
• Gave the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Corp. a credit against all 2026-27 city municipal taxes.
• Rescinded an order originally approved May 5 “due to a misstated purchase price” and accepted a $58,509 low bid from Top Coat Technicians for epoxy flooring at the municipal service center.
• Declared 938 Gay St. as surplus property to be sold.
• Accepted a $41,184 proposal from Perfect Reflections for sidewalk cleaning, trash removal, weed control and snow/ice removal in the Downtown Development Commission area.