802-796-4061 email: safd2@fairpoint.net
We presume most of you have received you tax bills by now or will be receiving them in the next few days, there is a tax that appears on the tax bill for SAFD#2. SAFD#2 was organized in 2002 to try to being municipal water to the residents of South Alburgh. Since SAFD#2 has had no income, funds to cover the day to day operations since 2002(such as liability insurance, membership to Vermont Leagues of Cities and Towns, legal notices ,mailings, post office box rental, legal fees, and interest on the project loan) needed to be borrowed. This loan has now come due, and it is necessary to tax all property owners in South Alburgh to cover this loan. None of these funds where used for engineering design work on the project.
Questions about this assessment can be directed to SAFD2@fairpoint.net or by calling 802.796.4061 or by Mail SAFD#2 PO Box 192, Alburgh, VT 05440
UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL WATER FOR SOUTH ALBURGH
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT SOUTH ALBURGH WATER PROJECT
How much will I be charged for water when I am not living in the house?
SAFD2 has used the arbitrary water customer total of 350 users to calculate an estimated range for water cost. Charges for water will be calculated in the same manner for both full-time and seasonal water users. A base amount estimated to be approximately $57/month is allocated for payment of the bond indebtedness (the “mortgage” to pay for the initial cost of planning and building the system) and will be charged equally to all users throughout the year. Based on the estimates provided, the debt service would account for approximately 2/3 of the total charge. This base charge plus actual water use recorded on the user’s water meter will comprise the complete water charge. SAFD2 estimates indicate that a year-round resident family could expect to pay a monthly water fee of approximately $83. Seasonal residents would use less water overall and so pay less per year.
How much will it cost each user to run the water from the hookup to the house?
Total costs will vary in every case and will be determined entirely by the length of pipe required, environmental conditions, obstacles such as trees, ledge, existing septic systems and leach fields, etc. encountered at each site. Under ideal conditions it is suggested that a range of $12 to $20 per foot of pipe might be used for calculation.
Why did you choose 300 gal/day as the standard water usage?
Without an existing system, the Water Supply Division actually requires that a standard estimate of 360 gallons per day (gpd) per typical household be used, to make sure there is enough capacity during worst case scenarios. Typically it is found that an average household uses between 100 and 200 gpd. Everyone’s water usage will be expected to be below the “standard water usage.” The projected cost of water takes this into account.
How much will the hookup fee be?
There are three entry levels offered to residents:
To encourage an early commitment to the water project, a discounted tap fee of $1500 per ERU, Equivalent Residential Unit, is being offered to early signers of the Water Service Agreement. The tap fee payment is due and payable before bid opening. A $2,000 per ERU will be charged if committed after bid opening but before start of construction. The fee will revert to the standard $2,500 per ERU if committed after start of construction. These fees must be paid with submittal of the signed contract.
Will SAFD2 water rates be the same as Alburgh Village rates?
The cost per gallon of water used will be the same for SAFD#2 users and Alburgh Village users. However, the cost of payback of bond indebtedness will be greater for SAFD2 users based on the higher current cost of installing a water distribution system and the greater distances involved.
Will the water quality be acceptable?
The Alburgh water plant is being upgraded to meet all current state and federal drinking water quality standards.
What will be the cost to the SAFD residents if the project is canceled due to inadequate support of the residents?
SAFD2 will be required to pay back the approximate $600,000 indebtedness incurred for the development, design, permitting, etc, of the proposed water distribution system. The funds would be raised by taxation of all residents within the SAFD2 boundaries. Based on the current grand list, it is estimated that this tax rate would be about 15 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value for a period of 5 years.
