Board approves stormwater fee increase as utility advisers outline multi‑year rate plan

The Village of Greendale board approved a resolution to raise the stormwater equivalent‑runoff‑unit (ERU) quarterly charge from $22.05 to $24.14 — a $2.09 increase for a typical single‑family home billed at one ERU.

The action followed a detailed utility financial presentation delivered by the village’s advisers. The advisers outlined a 10‑year outlook for the water, sewer and stormwater utilities, recommending a mix of near‑term adjustments to reduce the risk of large one‑time increases later and to meet debt‑coverage benchmarks.

The presentation explained the water fund recently completed a conventional Public Service Commission (PSC) rate case that produced roughly a 9% increase in rate revenue implemented for the 2025 billing year. Adviser Bridal said the PSC process creates timing windows for simplified adjustments and that pulling levers sooner can reduce one‑time spikes: "If you would have waited for this year it could have been a 14 percent one‑time adjustment," Bridal said, describing the rationale for staggered adjustments.

Bridal and staff showed a 10‑year projection that includes a 9% implemented increase in 2025 and smaller simplified increases in subsequent years; advisers said the utility aims to maintain debt‑coverage ratios near 1.4–1.6 and to smooth rate impacts over time. For the sewer utility, advisers recommended modest biennial adjustments; for stormwater advisers outlined a more significant capital plan and recommended the ERU charge increase adopted by the board.

Trustees asked about eligibility for PSC simplified rate adjustments, the impact of Milwaukee Water Works pass‑through charges and the practical dollar impact for homeowners. Bridal gave an example: the 9% water adjustment equated to roughly an $8.70 change in the average quarterly residential bill, while the projected combined effect across all utilities over ten years would be roughly a $310 annual increase for an average household (advisers stressed dollar amounts will vary by usage and customer class).

The board approved the stormwater ERU resolution on a roll call after Finance Committee recommendation; staff said the charge is calculated by impervious area and that single‑family homes are generally billed at one ERU. Staff and advisers also explained the stormwater utility will need to issue additional debt to cover certain capital costs included in the 2025 road program; the board later authorized an additional short‑term borrowing to cover a water‑utility portion of the road work.

The new ERU rate and the multi‑year rate plan materials will be included in upcoming utility budgets and in advisory materials for residents and commercial customers. The board’s action on the ERU increase was recorded as approved at tonight’s meeting.