Taylor board votes to raise monthly sewer meter charge by $19.50 to cover required upgrades

The Village of Taylor board voted on May 11 to raise the monthly sewer meter charge by $19.50, a change the clerk said would raise about $44,928 a year for the village. Julie White moved the increase and Justin Beaman seconded; the motion carried by a 4–1 vote.

Clerk/Treasurer Tammy Weisman presented a spreadsheet comparing Taylor’s current water and sewer charges with four neighboring villages and laid out four meter‑charge scenarios ranging from a $13.00 to $19.50 monthly increase. Weisman said the village bills 192 meters and that raising only the meter charge would apply the same monthly change to all households and businesses. She said the $19.50 option would produce the largest estimated revenue gain and that the village faces a 2026 budget deficit and cash‑flow concerns.

Weisman also cited comments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and required upgrades to the Main Street lift station as key reasons for raising rates, saying, “we have no choice but to increase our sewer rates at this time.” The board recorded that the village’s five‑year phosphorus mitigation plan would begin when it is incorporated into the WPDES permit, currently projected for July 2027.

The board directed staff to draft a resolution for the June meeting and scheduled a public hearing to allow residents to comment before the change is finalized. The clerk estimated the selected $19.50 increase would generate roughly $44,928 annually based on 192 meters; details on how the additional revenue will be allocated to specific projects or loan payments were not specified at the meeting.

Next steps: the resolution will be presented at the June board meeting and a public hearing will be held; the board did not adopt an implementation date at this meeting.