Study recommends raising Hartland Township commodity fee to $4.50; typical household could see $20–$25 monthly increase

Consultant Steven Burke of MFCI presented the township's 2026 water rate study, saying the township faces more than $14 million in planned capital improvements over the next five years and the study’s funding scenario rests on two proposed bond issuances totaling $10,500,000. Burke said the two bond issues would require about $730,000 in annual debt service by 2031 and recommended a commodity fee of $4.50 to achieve a minimum debt coverage of 1.10 across the plan.

Burke described the recommendation as moving the commodity fee to a higher share of revenue while keeping the ready‑to‑serve fee unchanged; the model assumes 10% annual commodity increases and 3% annual ready‑to‑serve increases to reflect inflation and projected new REUs. He told trustees, “Where we landed was $4.50 for your commodity fee.” The presentation estimated a typical customer’s quarterly bill increase between roughly $55 and $75 (about $20–$25 per month). Board members asked about unaccounted/unbilled water (percentages shown in the study as about 16.19%, 21%, and 19% for recent years); presenters said a portion reflects operational activities (hydrant flushing, backwashing, responses to discoloration) and that planned hydraulics improvements should reduce unaccounted water over time.

Trustee commentary put the recommended level in historical context: one trustee said the township's commodity rate was $3.62 per thousand in 2015 and had been reduced to $1.40 before recent study work, arguing the increase restores rates closer to historical levels. The board did not take a final vote on rate adoption at this meeting; staff will use the study and observed system data over the next year to refine rates for future formal action.