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Madison resident questions rising water and sewer bills; utility staff say rates unchanged since 2017
Summary
At the Dec. 1 Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, resident Sherry Hunter asked why sewer bills are higher than expected. City staff said water and sewer rates have not changed since 2017, explained separate rate structures and minimums (water minimum 3,000 gallons; sewer minimum 2,000 gallons), and directed the resident to the water office for individual billing review.
A Madison resident raised concerns at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting on Dec. 1 about sharply rising water and sewer bills and affordability for residents on fixed incomes.
Sherry Hunter of 703 West 4th Street told the board she and others have noticed increases and said a recent bill felt unusually high. “These water bills and sewer bills, we keep getting that keep going higher and higher,” Hunter said during the public‑comment period.
Brian Jackson, the city’s superintendent of water and sewer operations, and the mayor responded that the city’s water and sewer rates were last adopted in 2017 and have not changed since then. Staff explained the two utilities are billed separately, with different rate structures and different minimum usage thresholds; Jackson said the water minimum is 3,000 gallons while the sewer minimum is 2,000 gallons, and that changing a minimum without adjusting rate structure could raise bills for some customers. Staff recommended that residents check appliances and fixtures for leaks — which can drive higher consumption — and invited Hunter to visit the water office next door for a personalized review of her account.
The board did not take action on rates during the meeting. Staff said the city has made some recent changes to trash and recycling fees in prior years and that utility offices can investigate individual billing anomalies. The mayor noted the city is conscious of cost pressures and directed staff to continue efforts to keep rates fair and to assist residents who report unexpected bills.
