Asheville water/sewer costs (Raleigh, Woodfin: homes, buying, property taxes)

[NC_Paddler]

I've been just blindly paying my City of Asheville water/sewer bill for awhile and not really looking at it, when I just noticed that I'm paying roughly twice as much as I paid in Raleigh.

$20/month for sewer treatment for 1 person?

Holy crap (no pun intended), any idea why water/sewer is so much more expensive here? Just curious.

Thanks.

[marjorie121]

Your question raises one; Asheville city water -- vs-- Buncombe county water; which is more expensive? I'm guessing the city.

I notice many homes (outside of city limits) are on wells; does that mean the homeowner just pays for the pumping costs? For a three bedroom/2.5 bath single story home, what might that cost?

What are monthly utility costs like in Buncombe? Gas & electric, cable/high speed interent/phone service? Water? Lots of providers or is there a monopoly?

And one last question --- property taxes? I'm speculating again - are Asheville city taxes higher than county taxes? There must be fire district fees thrown in somewhere. If I bought a $268k house, what would I expect my property taxes to be (year 2010) in Buncombe Co? In Asheville city limits?

Thanks --- sorry to ask so many questions (and not trying to steal away from NC Paddler's good question, either).

Regards,
Marjorie

[Cofga]

Originally Posted by marjorie121

Your question raises one; Asheville city water -- vs-- Buncombe county water; which is more expensive? I'm guessing the city.

I think the city sells/provides water tio parts of the county. Other areas are on other water systems--for example I live near Weaverville anm on the Woodfin Water District supply (not part of the city of Woodfin) and my sewer is the big municipal one.

I notice many homes (outside of city limits) are on wells; does that mean the homeowner just pays for the pumping costs? For a three bedroom/2.5 bath single story home, what might that cost?

Yes, your electricity runs the pump. Of course when the electricity goes out you don't have any water unless you have a backup generator..

What are monthly utility costs like in Buncombe? Gas & electric, cable/high speed interent/phone service? Water? Lots of providers or is there a monopoly?

Pretty much a monopoly. Electric comes mainly from Progress Energy, but it is state regulated. Natural gas comes from PNC. Cable/internet is Charter, or Verizon/ATT DSL, or Skyrunner if you can get their signal.

And one last question --- property taxes? I'm speculating again - are Asheville city taxes higher than county taxes? There must be fire district fees thrown in somewhere. If I bought a $268k house, what would I expect my property taxes to be (year 2010) in Buncombe Co? In Asheville city limits?

Figure about $1400/year and double that for the city.

Thanks --- sorry to ask so many questions (and not trying to steal away from NC Paddler's good question, either).

Regards,
Marjorie

No problems

[marjorie121]

Thanks, Cofga! Lots of factors to consider before buying.

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by NC_Paddler

I've been just blindly paying my City of Asheville water/sewer bill for awhile and not really looking at it, when I just noticed that I'm paying roughly twice as much as I paid in Raleigh.

$20/month for sewer treatment for 1 person?

Holy crap (no pun intended), any idea why water/sewer is so much more expensive here? Just curious.

Hmmm... Were you billed every month in Raleigh but only every two months here (as we are)?

We pay $32/month for sewer and $31/month for water. (Feel better?) There are two of us, but sewer bills have no relationship to number of people in household.

Solution? Shower less often, don't eat so much. BWHAAAA HA HA.....!!

[NC_Paddler]

Originally Posted by the Parkies

Hmmm... Were you billed every month in Raleigh but only every two months here (as we are)?

DOH!! That would explain it!

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by nc_paddler

doh!! That would explain it!

lol!