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Jefferson County caps sewer rate hikes, creates fund to help customers with bills, repairs
Jan 18, 2024
Residents in Alabama’s largest county for years have lamented their monthly sewer bills, yearly rate increases, and a lack of aid for people unable to afford the rising costs.
Jefferson County commissioners and their finance team recently completed a refinancing of $2.24 billion in county sewer debt, a move that could provide a bit of relief for customers. Part of the transaction will set aside money to create a customer assistance program.
“It helped stabilize our sewer rates going forward and gives us the opportunity now to establish a sewer assistance program,” Jimmie Stephens, president of the Jefferson County Commission, told AL.com. “So it gives us increased flexibility, it normalizes our debt and our system.”