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Tallmadge council approves water-rate increase to shore up fund sustainability
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 2025-53 to increase water rates, citing the need to sustain the water fund and maintain infrastructure. Council discussed impacts on fixed-income residents and customer-notification plans.
The Tallmadge City Council approved an ordinance to increase water rates, a measure officials said is intended to ensure the sustainability of the city's water fund and ongoing maintenance of the system.
The finance committee and council debated the measure during committee review. Director of Public Service Rick Rohrer presented the background and urged the increase as important to maintaining the system. Director of Finance Jill Gilbride described the revenue and cost pressures motivating the change.
Council members raised concerns about the impact on fixed-income residents. Gilbride said the city currently offers a homestead exemption for qualifying seniors that provides a 25% credit on the sewer portion of the bill; she said she would analyze whether that exemption could be expanded to cover the water portion. Gilbride also noted payment-plan options and online billing as ways residents can smooth payments.
Gilbride described the estimated household impact in committee: "the net impact the year, I think, was $2.12 or $15 for the whole year," and said the city's minimum water bill is $34. Council asked for a communication plan; Gilbride said the city will post information on the website, include notices on bills, and considered social-media outreach and placing the presentation materials online.
Ordinance 2025-53 passed in committee and on council by a recorded vote of 4-0 (one council member absent). Officials said implementation details and customer notifications will follow.
