Bentonville council approves 100% water rate increase after heated public comment

The Bentonville City Council on the night of the meeting approved an ordinance to raise the city's water rates by 100% for 2025, following a lengthy public comment period and a failed amendment to reduce the increase to 50%.

Public opposition and questions from residents set the tone for the discussion. "This is bad governance," said Jeff Madgens, a Bentonville resident, during public comment, adding that a sudden, immediate doubling of water rates would be unfair to small businesses and households. Deborah Frey, another resident, said she recently received a notice about a leak at her home and said she could not afford additional city-imposed costs. Mary Zettle, describing herself as an outside observer, praised transparency but said she had heard "no iota about what the impact of those leaks fixing leaks has done," and urged the council for clearer performance measures for contractors addressing water loss.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the increase is…