New Rates

If you are gnashing your teeth because you bought an airplane ticket before the airlines began slashing prices last week, don't despair. There's a good chance you can fly at the new lower fares.Although many passengers aren't aware of it, most airlines will refund the difference if you ask. And many travel agencies are contacting their customers who are eligible for refunds and issuing them new tickets at lower prices, generally at no charge.Steven Durham, senior travel counselor for Ramsay Scarlett Travel Inc. in Baltimore, said,"We're very proud of the fact we give excellent service to our customers.

The Baltimore County Council voted Thursday to significantly lower fees developers pay to help the county buy parks and recreational land. A council resolution lowering the fees — in some categories nearly 90 percent — passed in a 6-1 vote, with Council Chairman Tom Quirk voting against it. County law requires developers to set aside land for recreation or open space when they build housing developments. But since 2000, the county has allowed developers to pay "waiver fees" instead of preserving land, if the county director of parks and recreation approves.

Baltimore officials hope to draw more money from city-owned garages downtown, raising rates at garages on Caroline, Baltimore and West streets while adding a new monthly overnight plan at the St. Paul Street garage. The city's Board of Estimates is set to vote Wednesday on the proposal, which officials say is necessary to maintain the parking facilities. The Parking Authority of Baltimore City, which recommended the increases, said the new, cheaper option on St. Paul Street will make parking more affordable for people who live nearby.

The 7,000 households in Carroll County that receive public water from Liberty Reservoir are expected to see a slight increase in the water and sewer bills. The county is expected to adopt the new rates as part of its budget on Tuesday, May 28, said Roberta Windham, a county spokeswoman. New rates would take effect July 1. Carroll County buys water from the Baltimore Department of Public Works, which announced Monday it will seek a 15 percent increase for city water and sewer customers.

The 7,000 households in Carroll County that receive public water from Liberty Reservoir are expected to see a slight increase in the water and sewer bills. The county is expected to adopt the new rates as part of its budget on Tuesday, May 28, said Roberta Windham, a county spokeswoman. New rates would take effect July 1. Carroll County buys water from the Baltimore Department of Public Works, which announced Monday it will seek a 15 percent increase for city water and sewer customers.

The New Windsor Town Council voted last night to increase water rates by 50 percent to eliminate the need to subsidize the money-losing service with general funds.During last night's monthly council meeting, Mayor Jack A. Gullo Jr. said that under the current rate scale, the water service would have a deficit of more than $15,000 by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.The new rates will take effect in December."The bottom line is that the water rates are going to have to be increased," the mayor told the council and residents at the meeting.

The Bureau of Public Debt released the new rates for savings bonds purchased from now through the end of April. The Series I bond rate for the next six months will be 3.06 percent, down from 4.60 percent for the previous six-month period. The inflation-protection bond is made up of two rates: a fixed rate for the life of the 30-year bond and an inflation rate that is adjusted every six months. The fixed rate remains a dismal zero percent, while the annualized inflation rate is set at 3.06 percent.

Most Manchester water and sewer users will face only a moderate rate increase under new fees approved by the Town Council Tuesday -- but big increases may be in store in future years, warns Town Manager Terry L. Short.He said the new rates "may let us limp through this year, but will mean substantial increases in future years."The Town Council approved a water rate structure that consists of a flat quarterly fee of $9.60, plus $1.74 per 1,000 gallons used. The new rate is less than the $1.87 rate that had been proposed at an earlier meeting.

An audit released yesterday revealed that the city government lost out on potentially millions in revenue by failing to increase rates charged to electric, telephone and fiber-optic companies that lease underground public space for wires and cables. Baltimore's auditor, Yovonda Brooks, told the city's spending board yesterday that $3.5 million was squandered over the past three years because rates were not increased from $0.58 to $1.16 per foot of underground space used by companies. The report estimated that the city could miss out on an additional $9 million over the next five years.

The Baltimore County Council voted Thursday to significantly lower fees developers pay to help the county buy parks and recreational land. A council resolution lowering the fees — in some categories nearly 90 percent — passed in a 6-1 vote, with Council Chairman Tom Quirk voting against it. County law requires developers to set aside land for recreation or open space when they build housing developments. But since 2000, the county has allowed developers to pay "waiver fees" instead of preserving land, if the county director of parks and recreation approves.

City officials plan to raise fees for docking boats in Baltimore's Inner Harbor in hopes of generating about $35,000 in added revenue. With that money, officials say, they could reduce the amount that taxpayers spend to operate the city-owned docks. Barry Robinson, the city's head of transit and marine services, said officials are working to make the program self-sufficient. "This is the first step in that direction," he said. The Board of Estimates is expected to approve increases to the Inner Harbor docking fees Wednesday.

Baltimore officials hope to draw more money from city-owned garages downtown, raising rates at garages on Caroline, Baltimore and West streets while adding a new monthly overnight plan at the St. Paul Street garage. The city's Board of Estimates is set to vote Wednesday on the proposal, which officials say is necessary to maintain the parking facilities. The Parking Authority of Baltimore City, which recommended the increases, said the new, cheaper option on St. Paul Street will make parking more affordable for people who live nearby.

The new rates for U.S. Savings Bonds are out. And at least the Series I bonds offer a better rate than you get at the bank. Series I bonds purchased this month through the end of April will earn an annualized 1.76 percent for the first six months. Series I bonds are inflation protected. The bond has two rates: a fixed rate for the life of the 30-year-bond and an adjustable rate that goes up and down with inflation every six months. New I bonds carry a zero percent fixed rate, and a 1.76 percent annual rate tied to inflation.

A new information box will accompany this Sunday's review of Family Meal, Bryan Volaggio's new Frederick restaurant. At a glance, you'll be able to see, along with the information we've always provided about hours of operation, prices and location, some additional context that readers have been encouraging us to provide. We are now including notes about parking and reservations as well as, when applicable, about dietary considerations and accommodations for children. We'll also let you know about the noise level.

The Bureau of Public Debt announced the new rates on savings bonds. The Series I Bonds purchased today through October of this year will have an annualized rate of 2.2 percent for the first six months of purchase. That compares with an annualized rate of 3.06 percent for new bonds purchased in the previous six months. The I Bond, an inflation protection bond, offers a fixed rate for the life of the bond, and a semi-annual rate that goes up and down based on inflation. The fixed rate is 0 percent.

Baltimore Gas and Electric's standard electricity price from June through May 2013 is expected to decrease customer bills by $54 on average for the year-long period, state energy regulators announced Monday. The Maryland Public Service Commission last week accepted bids from BGE and other utilities in the state to supply electricity to residential and commercial customers. On the residential side, utilities purchase electricity from wholesale suppliers under a twice-yearly competitive bidding process, which is overseen by the PSC. BGE residential customers can buy BGE's standard utility service or purchase electricity from third-party suppliers.

The cost of catching a cab at Baltimore-Washington International Airport will rise by about 16 percent under emergency legislation unanimously approved last night by the Anne Arundel County Council. The council unanimously passed the first taxi fare increase in nine years at the airport and across the county. "I'd say it's rather overdue," said Anne M. Hatcher, the county's licensing director. The initial cost of hailing a taxi will rise by 20 cents to $1.80 ($2.30 at BWI), and the per-mile charge will also rise by 20 cents, to $1.40, making Anne Arundel's taxis among the most expensive in the region.

The Bureau of Public Debt on Tuesday released the new rates for savings bonds purchased between November and the end of April. The Series I bond rate for the next six months will be 3.06 percent, down from 4.60 percent for the previous six-month period. The inflation-protection bond is made up of two rates: a fixed rate for the life of the 30-year bond and an inflation rate that is adjusted every six months. The fixed rate remains set at zero, while the annualized inflation rate of the bond is 3.06 percent.