The Village of Jackson Board of Public Works voted Oct. 28 to recommend that the Village Budget Committee and Village Board approve an 18% increase in sewer utility rates effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Board member Heckendorf moved to recommend the increase; Board member Kripke seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.

The board and staff framed the increase as necessary to meet state regulatory requirements and to maintain a solvent utility. Jack, Director of Public Works, said the increase reflects regulatory mandates and the utility's need for sufficient revenue, adding, “It's between what the DNR is mandating and for improvements and stuff like that and for us to fit into our, to keep the utility solvent.” Jack also said the increase is the second annual 18% adjustment recommended by Ehlers and that the current plan calls for one more similar increase the following year.

The board did not provide an itemized rate schedule in the meeting discussion; staff described the move as part of a multi-year plan recommended by the village's financial advisor, Ehlers. No written vote tally with individual member votes was recorded in the transcript; the meeting record shows the motion carried by voice vote.

If approved by the Village Board, the increase would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The Director of Public Works and staff did not provide a detailed revenue estimate or the specific impacts on typical residential bills during the discussion at this meeting; those details were not specified in the transcript.