Summary
The city wants to raise water rates 23% next year (then 18%, 17%, 3%, 3%) and sewer rates 5% a year to catch up on inflation and fund $32.7M in water and $70.3M in sewer capital projects. The council balked because it never approved the underlying capital plan and questioned where $35 million in prior rate-stabilization money went. Expect the fight to resume January 27.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jan 27, 2026.
Impact analysis
A typical single-family customer's combined bill would rise from about $65.22 to $80.28 a month if adopted as proposed.
Long-term, all water and sewer customers benefit from funded infrastructure, and the general fund is freed for police, fire and parks.
Ratepayers — especially fixed-income residents — would face a steep first-year water bill increase.
Mentions & discussions (2)
City Council — January 27, 2026
Water rates go up 8% a year and wastewater 3% a year — much lower than the 23% and 5% originally noticed. Staff found $8.65 million to ease the increase, and says the average combined bill actually drops $2.40 to $4.01 once the utility tax suspension is counted. Skipping the increases would have drained roughly $30 million from the general fund.
City Council — January 13, 2026
The city wants to raise water rates 23% next year (then 18%, 17%, 3%, 3%) and sewer rates 5% a year to catch up on inflation and fund $32.7M in water and $70.3M in sewer capital projects. The council balked because it never approved the underlying capital plan and questioned where $35 million in prior rate-stabilization money went. Expect the fight to resume January 27.
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