DeKalb water and sewer overhaul: board defers vote on multi‑year rate plan as residents call for audits

DeKalb County commissioners on Jan. 28 deferred consideration of a substitute resolution that would set a multi‑year water and sewer rate plan and authorize a bond issuance for major sewer and water rehabilitation work. County leaders said the substitute, which staff revised in the days before the meeting, would move the county from an earlier 8% annual proposal to a proposed 10% annual rate increase for 10 years and enable a larger bond issuance. Commissioners moved the substitute to a special PWI meeting scheduled for Thursday morning to give staff time to provide additional detail and to hold public outreach sessions.

Public comment at the meeting included broad calls for independent reviews of the county’s wastewater planning. Clarence Williams, a resident, urged the board to order “an independent forensic financial audit…