Bloomington board approves phased sewer rate increases to address 2026 deficit

The Village of Bloomington Board voted Dec. 1 to raise sewer rates in two 22% steps in 2026 after officials said the sewer fund is running a deficit and would require roughly a 43% increase to break even.

Clerk/Treasurer Shawna Atterbury told the board that a 43% single increase would be needed to reach break-even for 2026 but recommended phasing the change to ease the burden on residents. The board settled on raising both the usage rate and the base fee by 22% in the first quarter and the same increase again in the second quarter, a plan approved in a unanimous vote (motion by Dawn Drew, seconded by Al Mergen).

Board members said they consulted other municipalities and noted it is common to increase both base and usage rates when adjusting sewer charges. The phased approach was chosen specifically to lessen the immediate impact on households while moving the utility toward fiscal balance.

The board did not publish a final projected household bill amount at the meeting; Clerk Atterbury had supplied only the percentage increases and the 2026 break-even estimate. The board did not attach a specific effective date beyond the quarterly timing described and did not provide a detailed timetable for customer notices; officials directed staff to implement the two-step increase in 2026.

The decision follows other budget items approved at the meeting, including routine accounts payable and infrastructure repair contracts. The board noted it will continue to monitor the sewer fund and consider further adjustments if revenues or expenses diverge from projections.