City of Oswego cuts sewer and water rates by $100

OSWEGO, N.Y.– The City of Oswego Administrative Services Committee has approved a plan proposed by Mayor Billy Barlow to reduce the sewer and water rates by $100. This drop in rates is important to the citizens of Oswego given the current state of the economy.

“Every dollar you can put back into the pockets of citizens is extremely valuable right now,” said Barlow. “So to know that they’ll have a one hundred dollar relief in the next three water bills that they receive I think they’ll be pleased.”

This is the second time the sewer and water rate has been reduced in the last three years. In 2019, it was a $200 cut. Barlow hopes that these rate cuts will help citizens trust their local government. 

“We’re truly doing everything we can to streamline our processes, find efficiencies, be more effective with how we administer services,” said Barlow. “And as a result doing everything we can to save them money and make city government less expensive but just as effective.”

The reason that the sewer and water rates have been reduced are in large part because of renovations to the two waste-water plants in Oswego, as well as the sewer separation project. Updating equipment in the plants have made them more efficient.

“It was really just taking the bull by the horns,” said Barlow. “And doing these projects, getting them done so that we can offer relief once they’re complete and have a better plan and system once they’re complete and that helps save money in it of itself.”

The city is not done with working on the sewer and water rate. Their focus will shift to the water plant, which once upgraded will hopefully lead to more rate reductions according to Mayor Barlow.