The bad economy is good news for future buyers of new homes as well as developers of employment centers and retail complexes.

Thirteen firms submitted bids for the next phase of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion. The low bid of $4.49 million was 34 percent lower than the engineer’s estimate.

That has allowed lower charges to be proposed to be put in place. They are:

•$2,003 for a home in a very low density neighborhood such as estate-style lots.

•$2,003 for a home in a low density neighborhood.

•$1,802 for a home in a medium density neighborhood such as a typical Manteca development.

•$1,802 per unit for high density residential such as apartments.

•$815 per 1,000 square feet of office professional uses.

•$895 per 1,000 square feet for neighborhood/community commercial, business/visitor services, general commercial, and commercial recreation.

• $924 per 1,000 square feet for light or heavy industrial uses.

An additional savings is coming down the pipe as well.

There has been a $1,428 sewer connection fee in place since the early 1970s. After discussions with the Building Industry Association of the Delta, staff reaffirmed its proposal to eliminate the $1,428 per unit fee and replace it with a new “advance planning fee” calculated to be $330 per dwelling unit.

The proposal to eliminate the fee and replace it with a new one that is substantially lower will be before the council on May 19. The sewer charges a proposed for the phase three completion of the wastewater treatment plant is before the City Council on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.