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Sanitary commissioners move churches into commercial rate class after protests over steep bills
Summary
After more than a dozen public commenters — mostly church leaders — urged relief from what they called unexpectedly large sanitation bills, the Board of Sanitary Commissioners voted to change user classification language so churches and charities will be billed as commercial users while the board considers a separate category.
The Board of Sanitary Commissioners on Jan. 22 approved revised user-classification language that moves churches and charitable institutions into the district—s commercial rate class after numerous public comments describing large, unexpected increases in sanitary bills.
The vote follows more than 30 minutes of public comment from local ministers, church treasurers and other community members who said recent billing changes sharply raised monthly wastewater charges for small congregations. "We received a bill for our sanitation increase that happened this month going from $23.28 a month to $203.88," said James Heimlich, who identified himself as speaking for Riverside Avenue Baptist Church. Heimlich said the change would amount to "a yearly increase $2,164.44" for his congregation and urged the board to rescind or reduce the charge.
Why it matters: Board members said the change stems from a multi-year rate study and a federal- and state-driven obligation to reduce combined-sewer overflows (CSOs). Commissioners and staff described large capital needs tied to CSO work and said the district must adjust user classes to balance revenue while avoiding a federal compliance order that could impose external controls on the district's rates. The rate study that produced the proposed structure was prepared by Baker Tilly, which the board cited during discussion.
Public comment and reaction: Multiple speakers said the increase would threaten small churches' budgets and charitable work. Richard Crabtree, pastor of East Twentieth Southern United Baptist Church, said his congregation had already faced a utility shutoff and called the increases "staggering." Judy Carey, treasurer at Trinity United Methodist Church, said her church's bill rose from about $23.28 to $195.90 and that the change had been described to her as a new "base rate." William McIntosh, a city councilor who also spoke, said he had been told by the mayor the charge was a mistake and asked the board to correct errors when they exist.
Board response and next steps: Commissioners acknowledged the hardship and promised further work. A commissioner told attendees the board had not intended to single out churches and said moving churches and charities into the commercial category will provide immediate relief; the same commissioner also pledged to pursue a separate church/charity classification in a future action. Board members repeatedly framed the changes as an undesired but necessary step to meet CSO-related obligations and to avoid a consent-decree-style federal takeover. The board voted to approve the attorney-drafted language to change the user classification; the motion passed by voice vote with all members saying "aye." The board did not adopt a final separate church/charity class at the meeting but committed to pursuing the idea.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of Jan. 8, 2025 board minutes — motion by Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Smith; voice vote, approved. - Register of claims totaling $837,190.07 — motion by Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Smith; voice vote, approved. - Resolution 2025-01 (change in user classification, attorney-submitted language) — motion and second (not specified in the transcript); voice vote, approved (all ayes).
What the board said about rates and CSO obligations: Commissioners and staff explained the district is a combined-sewer-overflow community required by federal and state regulators to reduce overflow events. Board remarks cited an estimated additional capital need of about $160 million to reach revised overflow targets and described the rate study as the basis for the new classifications. Commissioners said the alternative to not adjusting rates could be a compliance order giving federal authorities authority to set rates.
The board asked residents to stay engaged and said staff would follow up on specific billing complaints that callers reported as errors. Several speakers said billing office staff had already corrected some individual bills after phone calls.
