New Port Chester Sewer Usage Program Catches New Rochelle's Eye

A new sewer usage billing program recently launched in Port Chester is being considered for New Rochelle, according to The Journal News.

In an email to reporter Cara L. Matthews, New Rochelle spokesperson Kathy Gilwit confirmed the city is considering the program, along with other revenue programs.

Under the Port Chester initiative, the village's 5,000 residences and businesses are being sent separate sewer usage bills, but those account holders are not paying more money, according to officials. Instead, the bills are being broken out to show the amount of water usage. Such payments were rolled into property taxes in the past.

Called the Sewer Rent Program, the initiative moves "the cost of sanitary sewer upgrades, repairs, and maintenance away from property taxes and more fairly apportions the associated costs through a user fee by capturing all users of the sanitary sewer system," Port Chester officials announced in the spring.