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Board adopts water‑rate increase to shore up Water Division; measure passes 12–2
Summary
On third reading the board passed Board Bill 25, a water‑rate adjustment intended to stabilize the Water Division and fund capital needs estimated in the hundreds of millions. The third‑reading roll call recorded 12 aye votes and two no votes.
The Board of Aldermen voted on third reading and finally passed Board Bill 25, an ordinance adjusting water rates to help make the Water Division fiscally solvent and to support long‑term capital improvements.
The Alderman from the 9th moved final passage, and supporters argued the step was necessary to preserve the utility's operations and to enable borrowing for roughly $700 million in capital needs described on the floor. "This necessary step will make the Water Division fiscally solvent and be able to address many of the critical needs in our city," the Alderman said during floor remarks.
Opponents registered 'no' votes during the roll call; the transcript reports a final tally of 12 aye votes and two no votes on the recorded roll call, and the bill was reported as finally passed and signed by the president.
Supporters also tied the funding need to recent infrastructure problems cited during the meeting, including a large sinkhole caused by an aging water main break that temporarily closed a downtown corridor — an example used by the Alderwoman from the 8th to emphasize urgent infrastructure needs.
What happens next: the ordinance was reported as finally passed and signed by the president and will take effect according to its emergency clause and the city's implementation schedule.
