Excelsior Springs council adopts modest sewer rate increase effective Jan. 1

The Excelsior Springs City Council on Dec. 2 adopted an ordinance raising sewer utility rates that city staff said are necessary to maintain the sewer fund's operations and reserves. Director of Public Works Chad Birdsong presented the staff report and the council voted to approve Ordinance No. 24-12-01.

Birdsong said the proposed changes, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2025, would increase the inside-city base rate from $23.60 per month to $24.63 and raise the consumption charge from $11.58 to $12.08 per 1,000 gallons. "It has been determined that a rate increase is warranted for the sewer fund at this time," Birdsong told the council, noting the adjustments are meant to be incremental so the city avoids larger jumps in the future.

The staff presentation included example bills for typical users: Birdsong said a 3,000-gallon user would see roughly a $4.00 total monthly increase (about $1.03 on the base plus roughly $1.50 in consumption), while a 5,000-gallon user would see about another dollar added. He also noted that outside-city customers are charged 1.5 times the inside rates.

City staff confirmed that the public hearing required by Missouri law was published in advance and that the hearing opened and closed during the Dec. 2 meeting with no public comments. After standard second-reading procedures, the council approved the ordinance by roll call; no amendments to the ordinance were recorded in the meeting transcript.

The ordinance text and the effective date were presented during the meeting; the council's action completes the local process to implement the new rates on Jan. 1, 2025.