Riverview to pass through part of GLWA increases and consider $18M bond for water and sewer projects

City staff told council that higher wholesale charges from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are creating immediate rate pressure for Riverview’s water and sewer enterprise.

Ann, the finance director, said GLWA has passed on a 6.55% water increase and a 5.93% sewer increase and that the city plans to pass a 4% across‑the‑board increase to customers to soften the impact. “Great Lakes Water Authority has passed on a 6.55% water rate increase and a 5.93% sewer increase… I felt we could pass on for the current year a 4% to the residents,” Ann said.

Separately, staff reviewed an $18 million list of water and sewer capital projects that have been advanced and in some cases already funded out of savings; the administration proposed bonding those projects (roughly $18M) so costs can be capitalized and earlier local spending reimbursed. Staff said annual debt service on an $18M bond with interest was estimated in the meeting discussion at roughly $1.4 million per year (estimate depends on market rates).

The council was told staff will move forward with preparing bond advertisements and financing schedules and will present final bond documents and estimated debt-service impacts for council approval in forthcoming meetings. The enterprise fund was presented as generally cash‑flowing but dependent on timely capital finance decisions to avoid large near‑term draws on reserves.

Next steps: staff will bring formal bond‑issuance timing, legal documents and a more granular debt‑service schedule for council consideration.