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Lake Bluff staff recommends 5% initial water-rate increase, plans infrastructure study
Summary
Village staff recommended a more aggressive initial increase to water rates — a 5% increase in the coming fiscal year — accompanied by a consultant study to assess infrastructure needs and long-term rate structure.
Lake Bluff — Village staff on March 10 recommended an initial 5% increase to the village water rate to accelerate investment in aging pipes and reduce water-system losses, and proposed a follow-up infrastructure study to guide future rate decisions.
Staff told the finance committee that the village’s water system needs larger investments to lower the average age of the network and reduce ongoing leaks and main breaks. To shift the pace of investment staff recommended a “splash” of higher funding this year — described as a 5% increase — then conducting a technical infrastructure and rate study to set medium-term targets.
Drew (village staff member) told the committee the initial 5% increase is designed to get the system “in the right direction” and that the amount is modest in household terms. Committee members asked whether the increase would be sustained; several said they favored the one-time stronger increase followed by re-evaluation.
Staff will return with a proposed scope for an infrastructure-focused consultant study and with refined revenue projections tied to the rate change.
Ending: The committee expressed support for the 5% initial increase and asked staff to prepare a consultant scope and follow-up analysis for future meetings.
