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Clarksville council approves multi-year wastewater and stormwater increases amid resident concerns
Summary
After a public hearing, the Clarksville Town Council approved a staggered four-year wastewater increase and a multi-year stormwater schedule; staff said the changes are needed to cover operations, debt service and capital projects, and one resident described replacing a private lift station that cost more than $2,000.
The Clarksville Town Council on second reading approved a package of wastewater and stormwater rate changes intended to cover operations, capital improvements and bond debt service.
Staff said a financial study completed in November 2024 and updated in early 2025 showed a need for multi-year increases. The wastewater proposal calls for increases of 5% in fiscal 2026, then 7%, 9% and 10% in successive years; stormwater would rise 22% in 2026, then 10% in 2027, 7% in 2028 and 0% in 2029. "The most recent financial study ... looked at cost of operation, planned capital improvement projects and debt service on existing bonds," staff said at the public hearing (staff presentation, SEG 084–089).
Residents who addressed the hearing objected to the burden on customers who maintain private lift stations. Resident Tracy King said she and a neighbor "have both had to replace our lift stations, which is well over $2,000 to replace them," and asked whether unmetered customers would see the same increases as others (Tracy King, SEG 131). Staff replied those customers are unmetered and would see the wastewater percentage increases but are not subject to the stormwater rate because the town does not provide stormwater collection outside municipal limits (staff, SEG 169–176).
Councilmembers discussed how the stormwater percent translates to dollars: staff noted the current base is $3.85, and one councilmember observed the 22% increase equates to a new base of roughly $5.20 (council exchange, SEG 314–321). During the roll call on the wastewater ordinance, the minutes record "4 in favor and 1 in opposition" (vote recorded, SEG 282–284). The stormwater ordinance passed "unanimously on the 2nd reading," the clerk recorded (SEG 326–330).
Why it matters: council leaders framed the increases as necessary to preserve infrastructure and maintain the town's strong bond rating so large capital projects can be financed at lower cost. Staff also said capacity fees will remain unchanged through 2029 and that some surcharges will rise similarly to the base wastewater increases (staff, SEG 103–104, SEG 100–102).
What happens next: staff will implement the rate schedule as ordered; customers will receive bills reflecting the staged increases beginning in 2026, and council will monitor the capital program funded by the additional revenue (staff presentation, SEG 080–092).
