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Council adopts 5% sewer rate increase to cover debt service for biosolids upgrades
Summary
City council adopted Resolution 122406, implementing a 5% average residential sewer rate increase (about $1.68/month) to cover inflationary costs and debt service tied to biosolids processing upgrades; rates to take effect Jan. 23, 2025.
The City of New Richmond council adopted Resolution 122406 to raise sewer utility rates by an average of 5% for residential customers, a change staff said would add roughly $1.68 per month (about $20 per year) to the typical bill.
Staff told the council the adjustment was recommended in the 2022 sewer‑rate study by Trilogy Consulting to keep pace with inflationary costs and preserve debt‑service coverage supporting upgrades at the Ellsworth biosolids processing facility. The rate structure adopted at council will take effect Jan. 23, 2025; customers will see the first changed bills in the March billing cycle.
The utility commission unanimously recommended the increase during its November meeting and staff incorporated the figure into the 2025 budget approved in November. The council took a roll‑call vote and the motion passed.
Next step: staff will implement billing updates and notify customers of the effective date; the council will receive utility reporting in future budget cycles.
