ECUA RATE INCREASE

The Emerald Coast Utility Authority may be raising water and sewer rates by 4-percent. That would add about $1.02 per month to the bill for the average water customer consuming 6,000 gallons per month and additional $1.31 per month for a customer with 4,600 gallons of sewer usage. The current average ECUA user pays $26.58 for water and $32.93 for sewage. ECUA board members Larry Walker and Dale Perkins voted against the increase. The first of two public hearings on the rate increase will be held at 3:00 Thursday afternoon, with another public hearing set for September 27.