The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to pass a different sewer-rate-increase plan than the one endorsed by Mayor Shirley Franklin as necessary to repair the city’s sewer system. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Franklin’s plan to renovate the century-old plumbing relied on tripling the maximum water and sewer fees over five years, beginning with a 45 percent rate increase in January. The plan left both residential and business customers howling." "In response, the City Council late Monday night voted 8-7 to keep the mayor’s maximum water and sewer rate increase of 45 percent, but the average rate payer will see a much smaller increase and more ratepayers will see no increases because of an expanded conservation discount," the paper adds. For more information, visit

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/1203/02sewer.html

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