Mayor warns proposed Columbus water-rate hikes could raise bills for Reynoldsburg residents

Reynoldsburg Mayor Begany told the City Council on Nov. 24 that the City of Columbus is proposing an 18% increase in wholesale water rates, an 8% increase in sewer rates and a 2% increase in stormwater rates that would take effect after the first of the year. Begany said Reynoldsburg — a master-metered community that purchases water from Columbus but operates its own local infrastructure — may see costs passed through to residents and that she, and the mayors of nearby master-metered cities, planned to meet Columbus officials the following day to press for detail and possible changes.

"City of Columbus is proposing an 18% increase in water rates, an 8% increase in sewer rates, and a 2% increase in storm rates," Begany said. She told council the cities of Gahanna and Bexley joined Reynoldsburg in seeking a meeting to understand the justification and any options for negotiating the pass-through to smaller communities.

Councilmember Baker and other members pressed Begany on timing and whether Columbus had already adopted its increase; Baker said it appeared Columbus had proceeded before meaningful consultation. Begany said the cities had sought a meeting earlier but were constrained by the Columbus schedule and an existing contract that limits how much Reynoldsburg can change local rates without a broader agreement.

Begany said the group will report back to council after the meeting and urged residents and council members to contact her office before the next meeting if they had questions. She framed the issue as one of fairness, saying Reynoldsburg residents should not bear costs for infrastructure or regional projects that do not benefit them directly.

The item remains at the discussion stage; no local rate change was proposed or voted on during the Nov. 24 meeting. The mayor said she would report new information at a future meeting after the scheduled discussion with Columbus officials.