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Hinsdale board raises bi-monthly infrastructure fee to fund water projects and lead-service work
Summary
The Hinsdale Board of Trustees approved an ordinance increasing the village's infrastructure maintenance fee to $30 per bi-monthly bill and raised unit water rates to fund roughly $17 million in water projects and preparations for a state-mandated lead-service replacement program.
The Hinsdale Board of Trustees voted unanimously June 9 to amend the village code and raise water rates and the water-infrastructure maintenance fee to shore up capital needs and prepare for a state-led lead service-line replacement mandate.
Trustee Pasquinelli moved the ordinance amending sections 7-4-2 and 7-4-B-7 of the Hinsdale Village Code. Under the ordinance the village sets a rate of $10.27 per 100 cubic feet for usage up to 10,000 cubic feet per two-month billing cycle and $15.88 per 100 cubic feet over 10,000; non-resident customers pay $13.21 per 100 cubic feet up to 10,000. The ordinance also imposes a $30 infrastructure maintenance fee (IMIF) per two-month billing cycle.
Trustees said the increases are intended to make the water enterprise self-supporting and to raise about $1.25 million toward planned projects. Board members noted the village has approximately $17 million of programmed water work over the next five years and that Illinois requires communities to replace remaining lead service lines over roughly the next decade.
Trustee Paschquinelli said he preferred the option that doubled the IMIF from $15 to $30 combined with a higher variable rate, describing it as "a lower flat fee, which I view as ... being less ... regressive," and several trustees agreed. Trustee Braden added that linking more cost to consumption is fairer because higher users pay more.
Trustees warned that revenue from a consumption-linked approach will be more variable with wet weather or conservation, but said the model better ties payment to usage. Staff told the board they expect to implement a replacement program beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and urged early planning because the market for materials and contractors will be competitive.
The ordinance passed on roll call with all trustees recorded as voting aye.
