Emsworth Council members have changed their minds yet again, and most property owners and residents will be paying the price.

After voting not to increase sewer surcharge rates in November, council authorized a change in the surcharge rate structure at its regular meeting on Wednesday. That change will result in rate increases for most property owners that range from about $10 to more than $600 per quarter.

Council was looking into a surcharge increase to make up a budget deficit to balance the 2010 budget. They then voted in November to cover the deficit with a transfer from a reserve fund.

On Wednesday, council member Paul Getz said that because of a 7 percent increase in ALCOSAN charges, the borough was actually losing money, about 88 cents, per account of property owners who used at least 10,000 gallons of water.

The current quarterly rate structure is $50 per 10,000 gallons used, plus an additional $6 for each 1,000 gallons used.

The new usage structure approved does away with the $50 flat rate, and passes on ALCOSAN's flat fee of $8.40 per quarter and a $4.04 ALCOSAN charge for each 1,000 gallons used, a $2 administration charge for the borough to send the bills to Central Tax, and an Emsworth charge of $4.35 for each 1,000 gallons used.

Getz said that the new rate makes everybody pay their fair share, by billing them for exactly the amount of water they use.

The borough's most common user group uses about 15,000 gallons per quarter. The estimated 339 users in that group will be faced with a $56.25 increase in their quarterly bills, which will go from $80 to $136.25. The 112 users in a group that uses 2,000 gallons or less will actually see a decrease of about $22.82 per quarter.

Council member David Heflin said that he would prefer to wait until the construction of the new pump station was complete before the borough increases the rates, because the surcharge includes the cost of mandated sewer repairs such as the pump station construction. He said that the borough is faced with a lot of one-time expenditures this year associated with the station.

Heflin also said that the borough actually brought in more than expected in sewer fees in 2009. He said Emsworth expected to get about $285,000 and ended up taking in $329,000. He maintained that the borough has the ability to wait on an increase by paying out of its reserves.

In a later interview, Heflin said the borough had a surplus of about $70,000 in 2009. Heflin said the new increases will bring in an additional $170,000.

Council president Maria West said she preferred the sewer fee increase.

"I'd rather have the money to pay the bills than wonder where it is going to come from," she said.

Council authorized the surcharge in a 4-2 vote, with council members Dan Lenz and Heflin opposed. Voting in favor of the new rates were West, along with members Getz, Connie Taylor and Kenneth Kroen. Council member Amy Adams was absent.