Mahomet trustees request more figures after consultant recommends raising fixed water and sewer charges

Consulting engineer Don Wauthier of Berns Clancy told Village of Mahomet trustees on March 10 that the village’s water and wastewater utilities have run negative cash flow in three of the last five years and recommended changes to the rate structure to stabilize finances. Wauthier said his illustrative option would raise monthly fixed charges while reducing the volumetric charge, proposing an increase of $10 to the fixed water charge and $15 to the fixed wastewater charge; under that option the per-100-gallon volumetric charge would fall from about $0.68 to about $0.50.

The recommendation aims to shift a larger share of fixed-cost recovery into fixed charges; Wauthier said the village currently recovers roughly 15% of fixed costs through fixed charges and that a 70% target would be more sustainable. He presented several options and outlined trade-offs, including how fixed-charge increases would affect customers who conserve water.

Trustee Colravy questioned whether a sharp increase to fixed charges was the best approach, saying he preferred alternatives that let consumers control costs through usage. Trustee Schriver asked staff to explore a “lifeline” rate or reduced-cost tier to accommodate low-income households. Village President Jason Tompkins asked if Wauthier could identify a precise revenue point that would stop the utility’s negative cash flow; Wauthier said he did not have that single break-even figure available at the meeting.

Village Administrator Patrick Brown and staff were directed to return with more detailed, quantitative options and hard figures for the trustees to review before any decision is scheduled. The board took no vote on rate changes at the study session.