Kanarraville board approves five-year water-rate increase; ordinance spells out year-by-year changes

The Kanarraville Town Board adopted Ordinance 0226-26 on Feb. 26, 2026, approving a $3-per-year increase in water rates for each of the next five years.

The board debated two draft versions of the ordinance: Version 1 spells out the year-by-year rate schedule for five years, while Version 2 states the $3 annual increase without listing each year. "Both versions have the same paragraph that changed what you said where it would implement a $3 increase per year on all water based rates for the next 5 years," Darcy Pershing said during the discussion.

A committee member who opposed the spelled-out version said, "The reason I... like Version 2 is because it doesn't spell out year by year." That member expressed concern that enumerating each year could make adjustments harder in the future. Supporters of the spelled-out version said listing each year's changes reduces surprise for residents who might read the ordinance.

A board member moved to approve Version 1, which spells out the increases, and the motion was seconded. During the roll call, Darcy Pershing recorded a “yes,” one committee member recorded a “no,” and Stoney Sugar recorded a “yes.” The motion carried and the chair read the ordinance into the record as "Ordinance 0226-26, an ordinance to modify the water usage rates." The board noted the utility will be reviewed annually with the enterprise fund.

The meeting also addressed related water business: board members approved pulling funds to update the town’s culinary water master plan from the current budget year if revenues allow, and they discussed timing and fund-balance impacts.

Ordinance 0226-26 takes the board’s recorded action on Feb. 26, 2026; implementation details and timing were discussed during the meeting, and the board said the rate schedule will be reviewed annually with the enterprise fund.