VIDALIA — Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said Tuesday town utility rates are the highest in the region because the town has been financially mismanaged for years.

A Vidalia utility customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours in June paid approximately 52-percent higher than the lowest rate in the region, and residents similarly pay the most amongst fellow Louisiana Energy and Power Authority members.

The use of 1,000 kilowatt hours in June would have cost a Vidalia resident $126.29. Meanwhile, Entergy Louisiana customers paid $90.81 and Concordia Electric Cooperative customers paid amongst the lowest at $86.58. Northeast Louisiana customers paid the lowest June rate at $83.29.

For an Entergy Mississippi residential customer, using November rates, 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity would cost $92.27.

Craft said this cost was not about passing on energy costs from LEPA, but rather propping up a bloated town budget. Thanks to the hydroelectric plant agreements, Craft said Vidalia actually pays some of the lowest rates amongst LEPA members.

Since he has taken over, through initial expense cuts and staff attrition, Craft said he has cut approximately $900,000 in salary and benefits from town spending.

Even with the cuts, Craft said services are not missing a beat.

“I think we are getting a lot more done with less,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Craft said. “Your town has been mismanaged financially for several years.”

Over eight to 10 years, $900,000 would equate to more than $8 million in the bank or not held up in debt, Craft said.

Without the debt and other problems, the high energy bills would not exist to support this, he said.

“I get calls from the little old lady who can’t afford a $400 utility bill,” Craft said. “We are having to send them to get federal aid to help them pay, and that is a shame, especially when everyone around us is enjoying a decent rate.”

Craft said more cuts are coming, including from a high advertising budget of approximately $300,000 to $400,000.

“I am not happy,” he said. “I am not going to be satisfied until we get to where we should be.”