Sewer rates in McCall could rise to $60 a month in order for the city to pay for either of the two wastewater treatment plant alternatives now being considered. Rates would need to be increased from $5.50 to $25.50 per month, according to the latest estimates. City sewer users now pay $34.50 per month.
Here are the costs associated with the alternatives: -Discharge into the North Fork of the Payette River: $70.2 million to build plus annual operating costs of about $550,000 to $717,000.
Rapid ground seepage in basins: $75.8 million to build plus annual operating costs of $695,000 to $908,000.
At the high end, the proposed rates would far exceed sewer rates for comparable communities in Idaho. Also, sewer connection fees would also increase to a range of $5,200 to $8,000.
City Manager Lindley Kirkpatrick warned the numbers are preliminary and only given as means to compare and plan.
Planners are assuming that growth will continue and that two-thirds of the costs of a new plant would be paid with connection fees for new construction.
