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Board member urges review of long-unchanged rate ordinances; staff to prepare numbers for January
Summary
A board member warned many subdistrict rate ordinances have not been updated in years and noted the statute allows up to a 5% annual increase without a public hearing; the board agreed to consider rate-ordinance updates in early 2026 and asked staff to prepare analysis.
A board member told the St. Joseph County Regional Water and Sewer District on Dec. 1 that several subdistricts have not enacted updated rate ordinances in years and urged the board to consider updating rates in 2026.
The speaker cautioned that the statutory allowance permits increasing rates up to 5% per year without a public hearing to cover costs and inflation and said that, given inflation since the last ordinances, the district could be missing an opportunity to build reserves. “You were statutorily allowed to increase rates without a public hearing up to 5% annum to cover your costs and inflation,” the speaker said as recorded in the transcript.
Board members discussed timing and agreed that staff and finance personnel should prepare numbers for the January meeting and consult with Steve Carter (staff) when available. The board did not change rates at this meeting; it directed staff to analyze each subdistrict’s finances and return with options for consideration in early 2026.
