Greeley board approves revised 2026 water and sewer budget; water rates cut to 5.5% from 8%

Summary

On Aug. 20, 2025, the Greeley Water and Sewer Board voted to approve and recommend a revised 2026 operating and capital budget that lowers the proposed water rate increase to 5.5% (from 8%) and holds sewer increases at 5%; the package delays several capital items and trims operating budgets to reduce near-term rate pressure.

GREELEY, Colo. — The Greeley Water and Sewer Board on Aug. 20 approved and recommended to the city manager a revised 2026 operating and capital budget that reduces an earlier-proposed 8% water rate increase to 5.5% while keeping sewer rate increases at 5%. The board voted to approve the package after staff described changes that lower near-term borrowing needs and operating requests.

The revision trims or delays capital spending and reduces some operating contingencies to bring down the immediate rate impact. “What you’re seeing today includes a 5.5% rate increase for water and a 5% rate increase for sewer,” said Virgil, finance staff presenting the revised proposal. Chairman Harold Evans, expressing concern about long-term debt levels, said he was “really uncomfortable with looking at a, you know, $35,000,000 debt annual debt service.”

Why it matters: the board initially recommended a larger water increase in July; staff’s revisions — including postponing an operations building, rescheduling an…

Greeley board approves revised 2026 water and sewer budget; water rates cut to 5.5% from 8%

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading