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Wales raises water base rate to $50 and increases deposit; council adopts ordinance
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 2026-02 to raise the monthly water base rate from $47 to $50, change the annual indexing from $1.50 to $2, and increase new-account deposits from $35 to $100; the ordinance passed by voice vote.
The Wales Town Council adopted Ordinance 2026-02 on water rates and fees after members amended the draft during a June 25 meeting.
Councilors discussed the proposal and noted the town needs to cover operations and build reserves. Jackson urged a higher base rate than the draft, saying, “47 doesn't get us there. I think 50 gets us there,” and members agreed to set the base rate at $50. Staff explained the change would help the town “break even plus 20%” to build savings for future projects.
Members also agreed to modify the automatic annual adjustment on the base rate from $1.50 to $2 to better keep pace with costs and to strengthen grant competitiveness. Councilors reviewed the water-service deposit policy: new accounts would see the deposit rise from $35 to $100, and the draft clarifies that owners — not renters — remain ultimately responsible for deposits on rental properties. Staff noted the deposit increase applies to new accounts only and is intended to reduce unrecoverable unpaid balances.
The ordinance was approved by voice vote with the members present supporting adoption. Council said a redline version incorporating the changes will be finalized for a formal adoption record.
Ordinance 2026-03, which would establish and regulate the water department and reassign authority over certain refund decisions, was discussed but not approved; members asked staff to clarify the draft and return with a revised version for future consideration.
