Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority customers will see no increase in their sewer rates in 2010.

On Wednesday, the authority approved its 2010 budget, which also calls for only a slight increase in metered rates for Halls Station water system customers.

Sewer rates remain at $55 per month per equivalent dwelling unit, or "EDU," while metered water rates will increase from $7 per 1,000 gallons to $7.25 per 1,000 gallons.

Authority Executive Director Christine Maggi-Weigle said the proposed budget was developed with the goal of not raising rates.

"We realize times are tough for our customers, including those on fixed incomes," Maggi-Weigle said. "With the substantial rate increase we had last year, we felt we had to keep rates down."

The budget the authority adopted last year for 2009 called for rates between $40 and $45 a month for the first three months of the year, depending on the service area, to $55 for the remainder of the year.

The authority is offering a discount of 5 percent for sewer customers who pay a full year by Jan. 20.

The discount is 2 percent for those who pay for six months by Jan. 20, or by July 20 for the last six months of the year.

The budget anticipates increases in utilities and treatment chemicals, but only a slight increase in personnel costs and almost no increase in health insurance premiums.

The authority provides sewage treatment service to the Borough of Montoursville, Fairfield Township and Halls Station and administers the collection system of Armstrong Township, which sends sewage to the Williamsport Sanitary Authority treatment plant.

Although sewer rates remain the same across the board in 2010, Maggi-Weigle said she is concerned rates may need to be increased for customers in Armstrong Township in 2011.

The township, which has only about 50 customers accounting for 91 EDUs, must pay its share of Williamsport Sanitary Authority upgrades associated with the Chesapeake Bay cleanup initiative as well as well as its share of the construction South Williamsport's Charles Street pump station.

Maggi-Weigle said problems with a mobile home park in the township are further complicating things. The former owner of the park is in bankruptcy and owes the authority about $11,000, which accounts for about one-third of the authority's revenue from the township, she said.