Tulsa staff outline stormwater 12% increase and water/sewer rate changes; median household bill to rise about $2.30

City staff presented the Budget Committee with an update on stormwater, water and sewer funding needs and proposed rate increases driven by an asset-management program and rising construction costs.

Staff described the Utility Enterprise Initiative (UEI) and an asset-management approach that layers condition assessments, a risk score and a capital-prioritization framework. Agency leaders said the city is working to expand in-house stormwater operations, add underground- and surface-assets staff and increase cash funding for capital projects to slow infrastructure decline.

Stormwater and staffing

Staff said a pending stormwater charge increase of 12% would generate roughly $4.1 million in full-year revenue in 2026 and equates to about $1.47 per month for the typical customer (approximately 5 cents per day). "The increase is gonna be 12%," a staff speaker said while reviewing the Black &…