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Resident questions steep utility and water budget increases; council explains capacity investments
Summary
At public participation a Fairhope resident said utility bills rose 65% in four years and cited water and sewer budget growth; city officials and staff responded that recent spending increased capacity from 9 million to 14 million gallons per day and defended temporary moratorium authority.
A Fairhope resident on Monday told the City Council she had seen her utility bill rise 65% over four years and raised broader concerns after reviewing the city’s water and sewer budget, which she said grew from about $14.4 million in 2021 to more than $63 million in 2025. Resident Rene Boutin said she compared per-thousand-gallon charges and could not reconcile the increase with inflation. "My utility bills have increased by 65% over the last 4 years," Boutin said. "In the same period of time, inflation was 15%." She also cited a large increase in the water and sewage…
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