Fort Smith board delays vote on proposed sewer rate increases tied to federal consent decree

Interim City Administrator Jeff Dingman opened a public hearing on proposed sewer-rate increases tied to the city’s federal consent decree, saying the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice “insist on compliance with the Clean Water Act regulations, and we are not in compliance.”

The Fort Smith Board of Directors heard a detailed presentation from water utilities staff on the scale and history of required sewer repairs, the city’s funding efforts and a financial plan that would pair user-rate increases with existing and potential sales-tax revenue. After public comment and board discussion, the board voted 6–1 to table the ordinance and seek more details.

The board was asked to consider an ordinance that would impose a 3.5% increase to sewer rates effective June 1, 2025, and then apply a 3.5% increase annually on Jan. 1 each year through 2030. City staff told the board those increases would help cover operating and maintenance costs and current debt service, and would generate about $629,000 in additional revenue in the first partial year and roughly $1.5 million for a full year after the next annual increase.

Why it matters

Fort Smith is operating under a federal consent decree requiring upgrades and ongoing maintenance to reduce sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). City staff said the work is costly and the scale of remediation rose as more thorough assessments showed…