Mount Vernon utilities panel outlines proposed 11% wastewater, 7% water rate increases for 2026–28

The Mount Vernon Utilities Commission discussed a proposed multi-year schedule of rate increases for the city's water and wastewater utilities during its Nov. 6 meeting. Staff described three consecutive annual wastewater increases of 11% and three consecutive annual water increases of 7% to begin with the first full billing cycle of 2026, with an explicit review period slated for the first quarter of 2028.

Commissioners and staff said the council is responsible for adopting wastewater rate adjustments while the safety service director handles water-rate adjustments. The increases were presented as part of a rate study and are intended to cover anticipated debt service for upgrades and ongoing capital needs across both utilities.

Staff called out that the three 11% wastewater increases equal roughly a 33% cumulative rise over the three years and estimated that, when fully implemented, the change would add about $10 to the base wastewater charge. Speakers emphasized the need to present the full enterprise costs — including major capital projects and routine distribution work — when discussing the rate schedule. Staff also noted that new meters and meter adjustments may change individual customer bills, which informed their decision not to make the increases effective immediately.

The discussion identified about $15,000,000 in anticipated upgrades at the water plant; staff said they amortized that estimate over a 30-year planning horizon when modeling rate impacts. Officials tied the rate recommendations to debt-service requirements for the wastewater plant and anticipated water-plant projects, saying the increases are intended to sustain both operations and capital financing.

Staff said the proposed legislation will be placed on the city council agenda for a first reading at the next Monday meeting. No emergency clause is planned, so the changes would take effect in the first full billing cycle of 2026 if adopted by council and implemented according to the schedule described. The transcript records a public contact line and an email address for follow-up questions (recorded in the meeting as 't saliers @mtverdonoh.gov' and a general questions address to the utilities office).

The commission did not take a formal vote on rate-setting at this meeting; the presentation was a legislative briefing and scheduling step ahead of council consideration.