SANFORD — A proposed increase that will hike sewerage rates 18.5 percent over three years drew opposition and questions at a public hearing Tuesday.

The increase, if approved by Sanford Sewerage District trustees Feb. 10, will be reflected in bills that go out to the district’s 4,700 customers later that month.

The proposed increase is pegged at 11.3 percent this year, 4.9 percent in 2015 and 2.3 percent in 2016.

“Is there any relief in sight on these increases?” asked resident Mark Mathieu.

Christine Teague said she lives on Social Security and received a 1.5 percent increase this year. With increases in health insurance and other expenses, “every year, I’m getting less and less,” she said.

“Between the high taxes and the sewage rate, it’s driving people out of town,” Teague said.

Sanford Sewerage District Superintendent Michael Hanson told those gathered that the hike is necessary to help fund two pumping station upgrades, close the sludge landfill and create a facility where future sludge would be combined with other materials to create compost that can be sold, rather than build a new landfill. As well, he said, the increase is necessary to help maintain cash flow, which has suffered due to a decline in use, fueled by the closure of restaurants, downsizing of some industries and vacant homes, creating a shortfall of $200,000 last year.

The increase would be the first since 2007.

“I know costs are rising and it’s really tough on people,” Hanson said. “But for most people, the rate will go up about $5.50 per month.” The estimate is based on an average household using 8,000 cubic feet of water annually.

He said the sewerage district has made changes in an effort to control costs, including upgrading a solar wall at the treatment plant, upgrading the heating system at the administration building and eliminating two vacant staff positions, one at the treatment plant and one at the office. It downgraded the health insurance plan twice and required increased employee contributions, he said.

Closing and capping the sludge landfill is necessary because it is full, he said, noting that it was built for a 20-year capacity and has operated 32 years. The compost site is seen as an alternative that could potentially see the district net about $100,000 annually in sales.

Another resident asked if the compost site is necessary now. Hanson said the alternative is to build another landfill, or pay tipping fees of $80 to $90 per ton plus transportation costs to send it elsewhere.

A number of questions were posed about the district itself; it was formed in 1947 and is not a part of city government, but is a quasi-municipal agency overseen by a five-member board of trustees.

Hanson said some of the piping dates back to 1909, and while the district should replace about 4,500 feet a year, instead, because of financial constraints, it is replacing about 2,000 feet. Last year was an exception, he said, when 3,000 feet was replaced on Pleasant Street in conjunction with a street upgrade done by the city.

Mathieu, who owns several apartment buildings, said he was pretty shocked when he read about the proposed increases and wondered if customers would see a rate decrease when times are better.

“It’s becoming very expensive to live in Sanford,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.