Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City sets 2% water and sewer rate increase after public hearing
Summary
After a brief public hearing in which a resident said recent bills had nearly doubled, the Saratoga Springs City Council adopted a 2% increase to both water and sewer rates, expected to raise modest quarterly amounts for residential and commercial users.
The Saratoga Springs City Council voted Wednesday evening to adopt a 2% increase in both water and sewer rates for 2025 following a public hearing.
The hearing drew one resident who said household bills had “almost doubled in the last year and a half” and pleaded for lower rates, saying higher charges were pricing some residents out of the city. The resident said the increases were not tied to the newly installed meter at their home and asked the council to consider reductions.
Council members closed the public hearing and discussed budget shortfalls staff had previously identified in the water and sewer funds. Finance staff had reported earlier that the water fund showed a deficit of roughly $810,394 and the sewer fund roughly $1,329,845; council members cited the deficits in explaining the need for a modest rate increase. The adopted 2% increase was projected in staff materials to raise quarterly bills by about $2.02 for a typical residential user (roughly $8.08 per year) and approximately $38.82 per quarter for commercial accounts (roughly $155.28 annually).
Mayor John Safford called for the vote after discussion; the measure passed unanimously 5-0. City staff said the increase would be implemented on the next billing cycle and that customers would receive updated statements reflecting the change.
What happened next: The council moved on to other agenda items after taking the vote. City staff said they will continue monitoring the funds and present future budget options if additional adjustments become necessary.
Why it matters: Water and sewer rate changes are direct, recurring costs for households and businesses. The council framed the 2% increase as a measured step to address structural deficits in the utility funds while limiting near-term impacts on ratepayers.
