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Mayor: Small stormwater fee increase reflects larger, federally mandated sanitary upgrades
Summary
City officials told residents a modest MS4 (stormwater) fee rise — about $21 a year — helps maintain stormwater services while far larger, federally required sanitary‑district upgrades tied to a consent decree could cost roughly $250–$300 million over the next decade and are the subject of litigation with Munster.
The mayor told attendees at Hammond City’s Mayor’s Night Out that a recent small increase in the city’s stormwater (MS4) fee was intended to sustain basic stormwater services while the city prepares for major federally mandated sanitary‑district upgrades.
A resident asked why the MS4 line on property tax bills rose; Milan Krasinski, head of the Hammond Sanitary District, said the fee had not increased in more than a decade and that the MS4 charge was increased to about $9.50 a month (roughly $114 a year), up from about $7.75 a month (about $93 a year), a roughly $21 annual change. "We just went before the council last fall and got the approval," Krasinski said, explaining the increase funds stormwater maintenance such as curb lines and drains.
The mayor said the MS4 increase is “very minor” compared with the larger upgrades the sanitary district faces under a federal consent decree. "Within the next 10 years, we're gonna have to spend around 250 to $300,000,000 in the Sanitary District on upgrades. This is non negotiable. This is the federal government requiring us to do this," the mayor said, adding that litigation with the neighboring town of Munster has delayed planning and work because Munster disputes its share of the cost.
City officials said the sanitary‑district work would include major infrastructure projects such as additional enclosed capacity to control combined‑sewer overflows and a CMDF facility to intercept storm flows from neighboring communities. The mayor and city staff emphasized the MS4 fee supports ongoing stormwater functions but does not fully fund the large upgrade program required by the consent decree.
Officials urged residents to direct technical or billing questions about the MS4 line to the Hammond Sanitary District and to use the city's constituent services or written‑question process for follow‑up. The mayor said staff will continue to brief the public as planning and litigation evolve.
