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Sewer fund staff recommend 8% rate increases two years running; council directs public feedback and expands utility assistance program
Summary
Reno officials told council April 9 that rising construction, chemical and power costs are outpacing current sewer‑user revenues and recommended an 8% user‑rate increase in October 2025 and a second 8% increase in October 2026; council unanimously directed staff to solicit public feedback and return with an ordinance.
Reno officials told the City Council on April 9 that escalating treatment and construction costs have left the Sewer Enterprise Fund on a path to insolvency unless rates are raised.
Key finding: Regional Infrastructure Administrator John Flansberg said construction costs for water and wastewater projects have risen about 41.4 percent since 2019 and that chemicals such as chlorine have jumped significantly (Flansberg said, "chlorine ... the cost of chlorine since 02/2019 has gone up by 300%"), driving a capital program that totals nearly $1 billion over 20 years. Flansberg said staff and consultant Dow recommended an 8 percent user‑rate increase in October 2025 and another 8 percent in October 2026, followed by CPI indexing thereafter;…
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