North Huntingdon Town-ship Municipal Authority is expected to raise rates for the 2008 fiscal year.

The projected increase in sanitary sewer rates, $2 per dwelling per month, will affect more than 11,000 authority customers in the township. Kate Petrosky, authority general manager, said that the authority was forced to raise rates to balance its budget.

"We're looking at increases in our operating costs," said Petrosky. Most of the increase, she said, came from rapidly rising fuel costs, although some is due to normal increases in equipment, personnel and maintenance costs.

Over the past several years the authority has raised rates several times by $1 per dwelling per month to meet increased capital costs. This year, Petrosky said, the increased price of fuel forced the authority to focus on operations rather than capital.

Under the proposed rate, homeowners covered by the authority would see an annual bill of $458.40, or $114.60 a quarter.

Although Petrosky said the authority had its hand forced by rising prices, the rate increase should put it on solid financial footing for the next few years.

"You can never say that you won't have increases in the future," Petrosky said, but she added that rates would probably remain constant for several years.

Recent line inspections carried out by the authority were already covered by previous rate increases or were the responsibility of the homeowner.

Petrosky said most of the capital costs faced in previous years came from repairs to older lines, as well as cracks and damage uncovered by the inspections.

Although the authority has had to expand service as new development goes in, Petrosky said the township's growth has not contributed to increased costs.

"They're all new lines, and don't require the maintenance that other parts of the system might need," she said.

Fees associated with line inspections and tap-in fees will remain the same.

The authority's board was expected to approve the rate increase at its meeting last night.