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Council hears first reading to freeze residential water and sewer rates, raise large-user charges
Summary
Council heard a first reading proposing a residential rate freeze for water and sewer funded in part by tax-fee investments and used to offset a new water tower cost; rates for larger users (above 8,000) would not be frozen and would increase.
At the July 9 Trenton City Council work session, Masysklis presented a first reading of a proposed rate freeze that would hold residential water and sewer rates steady while allowing increases for larger nonresidential users.
Masysklis said staff had initially expected to propose a 3.6% annual rate increase for the next five years but now recommend using tax-fee proceeds and other investments to offset those increases "to offset the cost of the existing the water tower that's under construction" and ongoing fees for large customers. He explained the freeze would apply only to residential customers; "larger users would not be frozen at rate[s]," and the staff singled out users above 8,000 as likely to see increases.
The mayor confirmed the council intends to raise commercial rates while preserving residential rates under the proposal. No ordinance or vote occurred at the work session; the item was presented as a first reading and will return for further consideration. Council members did not provide a final decision during the meeting.
If adopted in a later meeting, the policy would change a previously anticipated 3.6% annual increase and shift some costs to larger users, with staff citing the new water tower and large-user fees as drivers of the change.
