Evansville council approves budgets, phased utility rate hikes and multiple agreements

The Evansville Town Council on June 20 adopted a series of ordinances and agreements that officials said are intended to shore up utility finances and advance infrastructure projects.

On third and final readings the council approved Ordinance 5‑2026, an amendment to the FY2025‑26 budget, and Ordinance 6‑2026 adopting the FY2026‑27 budget. Town Clerk Janelle recited the ordinance totals for the general, enterprise and capital funds before the council voted to adopt both measures on voice votes.

Council also approved a package of utility rate increases. Ordinance 7‑2026 raises water rates in two 5% steps—effective July 1, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027—while Ordinances 8‑2026 and 9‑2026 apply the same two‑step increases to sewer and sanitation rates. Speaking during the discussion, council members said raising rates gradually helps qualify the town for certain state grant programs and aims to ensure the enterprise funds generate more revenue than expenses. “This is the first water increase we’ve had in three years,” one council member said, adding that the increases were designed to spread costs across water, wastewater and sanitation services.

The council authorized the mayor to execute a Public Safety Communication Center User Agency Advisory Committee Agreement, a multi‑year cooperation agreement effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. Chief of Police Mike Thompson and staff participated in drafting the document, which the mayor was authorized to sign after council motion and voice vote.

Council also removed Ordinance 4‑2026, a franchise agreement with Visionary, from the table and considered it on first reading after a June 12 meeting between town staff and Visionary representatives. Council President Deja Edwards and other members said the company committed to remedial work addressing resident complaints and that Visionary representatives had been responsive; the ordinance passed first reading.

In the engineer’s report the council approved a construction contract and joint retainage account for Phase 2 of the Mesa/Wildcat infrastructure project and accepted associated contract documents. The motion to approve the contract and joint account carried on a voice vote.

The council also approved step‑pay plans for fire department and general government employees and handled routine journal and meeting items. All adopted measures passed by voice vote; the transcript does not record roll‑call tallies.

Votes at a glance • Ordinance 5‑2026 (FY2025‑26 budget amendment): approved (third reading). • Ordinance 6‑2026 (FY2026‑27 budget): approved (third reading). • Ordinance 7‑2026 (water rates): approved (two 5% steps, effective July 1, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027). • Ordinance 8‑2026 (sewer rates): approved (same schedule). • Ordinance 9‑2026 (sanitation rates): approved (same schedule). • Ordinance 4‑2026 (Visionary franchise): taken off table and approved on first reading. • Public Safety Communication Center agreement: mayor authorized to execute. • Mesa Phase 2 contract and joint account: approved (contract amount recited in engineer’s report; contractor name inconsistent in transcript, see note).

What to know next The ordinances altering rates take effect in the two steps recited; residents and businesses should expect small increases on bills beginning July 1 and another on Jan. 1, 2027. Council members noted rate levels affect future grant eligibility and long‑term enterprise fund health. The town will provide adopted ordinances and finalized contract documents as part of the official meeting record.

Note on transcript inconsistencies: the transcript contains inconsistent spellings for the development/contractor referenced in the engineer’s report; the article reports the council action and notes the transcript inconsistency rather than use a single, unverified contractor spelling.