QUESTIONS ABOUT TAXES AND YOUR WATER BILL?
TRUTH ABOUT TAXES:
There is a good deal of misinformation being spread throughout the Township during this election season concerning taxes and utility rates. Rather than a subject for controversy, these are matters over which this Township should be proud.
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Georgetown has the lowest tax rate of any city, village or township in our vicinity.
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Georgetown is known in the area for its low property tax rates at just 2.25 mills. Much lower than our nearest neighbors Grandville, Wyoming and Hudsonville. Let that sink in.
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Georgetown is easily the largest municipality in all of Ottawa County (larger than Holland, Grand Haven and Hudsonville; the 7th largest township in the State); has a near identical population to the City of Kentwood (55,000+); and yet has a lower tax rate than all of them, including smaller townships such as Jamestown and Blenden. The chart here says it all.
THE TRUTH ABOUT WATER/SEWER RATES:
REAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRES FUTURE PLANNING
Township voters are also being misled during this election cycle with claims that the Township’s water/sewer fund has surplus money and that rates were unnecessarily raised this year to simply increase “profits”. The implication is that the Township is arbitrarily taking more money than is needed from its residents with no real purpose or need. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Georgetown Township does not operate a water or wastewater treatment facility. If we did, we would have to bond (borrow) tens of millions of dollars to build water and wastewater infrastructure. We contract with the City of Wyoming for water supply and the City of Grandville for wastewater treatment. Increases in costs that Wyoming and Grandville incur are then passed along as fees to us. Rates charged to the Township have been steadily increasing in these inflationary times. Moreover, in the past few years, the costs for water and sewer pipes have drastically increased in price, in some cases 40%! Meanwhile, for the past five years, Georgetown Township did not raise water/sewer fees at all. As a result, in 2023, the Georgetown water & sewer fund went backward $1.3 million dollars because rates charged to our residents did not go up, while fees charged to us by Grandville and Wyoming did. This could not continue.
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Additionally, in Georgetown Township, we have over 271 miles of water mains and 174 miles of sewer mains. Every year, a different section of our sewer system is checked to verify that the pipes are intact and are not leaching wastewater into the ground. In addition, the ages of the pipes in the ground (60+ years old) have met their “useful life” and will need to be replaced in the future. What does this mean for residents in Georgetown Township? It means we need to prioritize and maintain pipe inspection, maintenance, and replacement to make sure the aging and growing infrastructure is resilient in the future. One project currently underway involves 48th Avenue and by all estimations will cost, in the end, as much as $19 million dollars. These, and other projects, are matters which must be planned and prepared for. Money has to be set aside for years in advance. We have done this and we have the money saved for this particular project, even as we plan and prepare for others. It is the essence of good governance. It is what you expect of your Township leaders.
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As noted, Georgetown residents have not seen an increase in water/sewer rates for five years. These charts show how our fees compared to the other largest municipalities in Ottawa County after holding our rates steady for so long.
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As you can see, we charge far less than our neighboring communities. So after 5 years of holding an artificially low rate, Georgetown residents have seen an increase in water and sewer rates in 2024. The increase comes as a recommendation based on an independent rate study conducted by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors. The study, presented to the Board in September 2023, looked at the current rates as well as the current and future maintenance and capital improvement needs. To meet these needs, the Board approved the recommended increase of $3.70 to the Ready-to-Serve quarterly charge and an increase of $0.85 (per 1,000 gallons) to the monthly Consumption charge. The sewer rate saw an increase of $3.50 to Ready-to-Serve quarterly charge and an increase of $1.30 (per 1,000 gallons). These rate changes are designed to address the rising costs for these essential services and to ensure the stability of these resources for current and future residents.
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In summary, far from collecting “surplus” money or “profits” – as some are saying for election year politics -- the monies collected through water/sewer fees are necessary for prudent planning. Those who suggest we cut water/sewer fees are simply unwilling to do what is necessary for the present and future needs of our Township. It’s easy to propose cuts. It’s hard to do sound, fiscal planning for the greater good of both our present and future population. If elected, I will continue to do what is right for the present, and the future, of Georgetown Township.
