Committee recommends 3.5% wastewater rate increase effective July 1, 2025

Marietta’s Budget & Rates Committee on April 7 recommended that the Board of Lights and Water revise BLW Policy 3.22 to raise wastewater rates by 3.5%, with the proposed effective date of July 1, 2025.

The committee discussion followed a presentation from Kim, a BLW staff member, who said Cobb County’s Board of Commissioners voted to increase wholesale wastewater rates by 3.5% effective May 1 and that Marietta staff proposes a corresponding revision to the city’s retail policy. Under the proposed change, the minimum wastewater bill, which includes the first 2,000 gallons, would rise from $17.85 to $18.47. The commodity charge for each additional 1,000 gallons would increase from $8.92 to $9.23. Kim said the change represents a 3.5% increase and said customers would pay “about a dollar 25 more a month.”

Kim told the committee the 3.5% adjustments are expected to recur each January through 2029. Committee members asked clarifying questions about timing and the relationship to the Cobb County wholesale increase; Kim said the county action took effect May 1 and Marietta staff proposed July 1 for the retail effective date.

Committee member Pete moved to recommend the 3.5% increase to the full board; a second was recorded but the speaker identification for the second was not specified in the transcript. The committee approved the recommendation by voice/hand vote; no opposition was recorded in the meeting record.

The committee directed staff to incorporate any board decisions into the final budget work in May. The item will return to the full Board of Lights and Water for final action before implementation.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted to recommend revision of BLW Policy 3.22 to increase wastewater rates by 3.5%, effective 07/01/2025; motion moved by Pete (committee member); second not specified; outcome recorded as approval by the committee.