- Lehigh County Authority wants to raise its water and sewer fees for Allentown residents in 2024
- A typical Allentown customer would pay about $100 more for water and sewer next year if the budget is approved as passed
- Lehigh County Authority’s board of directors could adopt the new rates at its Nov. 13 meeting
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown residents might have to pay a lot more in 2024 for their water and sewer services, as Lehigh County Authority eyes rate hikes.
A “typical customer” in Allentown should expect to pay about $100 more next year, according to the agency's projections.
Quarterly water bills for a resident who uses 15,000 gallons would jump from about $219 to $245, an 11.6% increase.
Bills would increase $13 a year, or 3.9%, for customers in the suburbs.
A breakdown of the typical residential water bill shows six of the agency’s seven separate charges are due to increase, with only the “administrative order fee” remaining flat.
Lehigh County Authority said it needs to raise fees so it can complete "necessary plant upgrades and infrastructure improvement projects" next year.Lehigh County Authority website
The agency said it needs to raise fees so it can complete "necessary plant upgrades and infrastructure improvement projects" next year.
The authority’s proposed 2024 budget shows it plans to spend almost $17 million on capital projects in Allentown next year after spending about $6.3 million on those projects in 2023.
Its wastewater capital expenses in Allentown are set to jump from about $8.3 million to $14.8 million, according to the budget proposal.
The authority’s board of directors could adopt the new rates at its Nov. 13 meeting.
The agency's planned rate hikes come as Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk is proposing to raise taxes by 6.9% and increase trash and recycling fees for city residents.
