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Campbellsville council approves water and sewer rates after debate over automatic 3%
Summary
After debate over an automatic 3% annual increase, the Campbellsville City Council approved ordinance 26-01 setting water and sewer rates; the vote was 9–2. Members cited rising costs and capital needs while some opposed locking an automatic increase into ordinance language.
Campbellsville — The City Council approved ordinance 26-01 setting water and sewer rates on June 15, 2026, after a heated discussion about whether to retain an automatic 3% annual increase in the ordinance. The roll-call vote recorded nine in favor and two opposed.
The measure clears rates for the coming year; councilmembers who supported the ordinance said a modest automatic increase avoids sudden, larger hikes and helps maintain the utility’s finances. Opponents pressed for more written financial detail and argued the council should not embed a mandatory percentage into ordinance language without additional review. Councilmember AJ voted against the measure, stating, “No, because it’s the 3%.”
Speakers noted the water committee reviews rates in the spring and submits recommendations, and councillors urged that a member of the water board present detailed numbers when recommending increases. Staff and other participants said the automatic provision was adopted previously by a past administration to provide predictable revenue and to satisfy bond and grant-related expectations tied to projects such as the Batesville water tank.
Council discussion included larger capital needs: one participant said the city’s sewer plant could require a roughly $10 million repair and referenced state funding the city has received (discussed in the meeting as $15 million and another $6.1 million) that help offset capital borrowing needs. Supporters of the ordinance cited those funding pressures as a reason to keep incremental rate adjustments rather than deferring larger increases.
After debate, the council proceeded to a roll-call vote. Votes recorded: Jacob yes; Deanna yes; John yes; Jimmy yes; Faith yes; AJ no; Stan no; Kathy yes; Adonnie yes; Sharon yes; Heather yes. The motion carried.
The council indicated it may revisit the question of whether to retain or remove the automatic 3% in a separate ordinance discussion; the immediate vote addressed rates for the coming fiscal year.
