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Princeton council approves 10% sewer-rate increase and related sewer bond to speed infrastructure repairs
Summary
The council approved a 10% increase in sanitary sewer service charges and passed bond ordinances financing trunk-line rehabilitation and other sewer improvements, with municipal staff noting university cost‑sharing to accelerate critical work to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I).
Princeton's mayor and council on June 22 approved an ordinance raising sanitary sewer service charges by 10% to support a multi-year investment program aimed at trunk-line rehabilitation, pump station replacements and other upgrades.
Deanna, a municipal staff member who presented the proposal, said the rate adjustment will support a 10‑year, $100 million investment plan that includes main replacements and I&I reduction projects. "This ordinance is to provide for a 10% increase in the sanitary sewer service charges," Deanna said. She added the increased revenue will assist with debt service for those capital improvements.
Councilmember Mia emphasized the urgency of reducing inflow and infiltration — water entering the sewer system that is not sanitary waste — and framed the rate change as spending now to save money later. "We are spending money to save money," she said, noting that the town currently pays to treat stormwater that enters the sewer system.
Council also approved a bond ordinance (ORD 26-24) providing $4,766,000 for sewer improvements and a related appropriation (ORD 26-25) of $1,212,000 from sewer connection fees for equipment and related work. Municipal staff and council noted an agreement with the university that shares costs for trunk-line B and C rehabilitation (reported as a combined $7.5 million), which will reduce the burden on other taxpayers.
All sewer-related ordinances and the bond measures passed by roll call vote.
The measures set the town on an accelerated course to reduce I&I, which both council and staff said will lower long-term treatment costs and environmental impacts. The next administrative steps include finalizing project schedules, obligating bond proceeds, and coordinating with university partners and engineering consultants on trunk-line design and construction.
