Trumbull County commissioners table proposal to exempt seniors from proposed water-rate increase

The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners on March 19, 2025 voted to table a proposal to exempt homestead-eligible seniors and fixed-income residents from a proposed increase in county water rates, saying commissioners must review additional data and options before making a decision.

Commissioner Malloy moved to table the item, saying staff and the sanitary engineer should add homestead-exemption data and give the board time to review the financial impact. "So we have been dealing with the water rates that we make sure that we keep in mind the fixed income and senior citizens in the county to not put any more undue burden," Malloy said during discussion.

The motion was presented after a workshop conversation about how a water-rate increase would interact with last year's sewer-rate increase. The move to table drew support from the other commissioners while several expressed concern about the county's financial exposure if a rate vote is delayed.

Commissioner Bernard said he wants deeper cuts from the sanitary engineering department before he would support a rate increase. "I just think we' need to see more cuts out of the sanitation engineer's department. I've been asking for that since day one and I haven't seen it," Bernard said, adding he was not ready to impose a rate increase until he saw evidence of cost reductions.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez, board president, urged caution about delaying action if it risks a fiscal emergency. "The last thing we want is the state to come in for an audit and declare a fiscal emergency," Hernandez said, noting the board has been advised the sanitary district had not raised rates in about 10 years and that the district faces financial strain.

Commissioners discussed several next steps before the board will revisit the item: obtaining the auditor's data on how many county residents qualify for the homestead exemption, asking the sanitary engineer for proposed cost reductions, and, at least in one commissioner's view, touring sanitary facilities to better understand operations. Malloy said he wants the figures that include homestead exemptions before the board votes. Bernard also asked for an explanation of a reported $1.5 million shortfall in 2024.

During the discussion, Malloy read comparative water-rate figures supplied by the sanitary district for context: Canfield at $15.94 per 1,000 gallons; Aqua at $14.34; Gerard at $20.12; Lordstown at $13.55. Malloy said those figures suggest Trumbull County is not out of line with neighboring rates but that the board still needed the additional local data.

After discussion, the board voted to table the item; the chair said the matter will return for further consideration once the requested information is provided.

The decision leaves the county with no immediate change to water rates; commissioners said they want the auditor's numbers and additional proposals from the sanitary engineer before scheduling a new vote.