MSD board expected to finalize series of rate increases

Today, the board of trustees of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is expected to finalize a series sewer rate increases - the result of voter approval of Proposition Y on June 5.

MSD spokesperson Lance LeComb says those increases will slowly phase in over the next four years, like this:

• "On July 1, a 9.1 percent increase would go into effect, and that would first be seen on August bills, bills that customers receive in August."
• LeComb says rates would go up by between 10.8 percent and 13.3 percent each July 1 through 2015.
• LeComb also says for a residential household, that would mean sewer bills would average about $44 per month -  up from about $29 per month right now.

The increases will go toward funding $4.7 billion in upgrades to the St. Louis sewer system. Construction on the first round of projects is expected to begin in August.

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