Mayor Joyce: Steger may raise water rates after 90 main breaks, finance figures pending

Mayor William Joyce told the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 18 that the village will consider raising water rates in 2026 because the utility is losing more treated water than residents are paying for and the system is operating at a shortfall.

"At today's Committee of the Whole Meeting, the only thing that we have to discuss is discussion of everyone's favorite topic, raising the price of something," Joyce said, introducing the subject. Joyce said the village currently charges $2.42 for 100 cubic feet of water; combined with the Thorn Creek sewer charge tied to water use, that amounts to about $3.82 per 100 cubic feet for residents. She reported Steger suffered 90 water-main breaks this year and that lost water increases operating costs the village must cover, sometimes by borrowing from the General Fund.

Mayor Joyce said the last water-rate increase was eight years ago and that among eight neighboring communities with municipal well systems, Steger charges the least. She said the Water Committee will reconvene with outside water professionals to review system quality and finances and that the village's finance department is preparing figures to guide any proposal. No formal vote or rate change was taken at the Aug. 18 meeting.

Trustees asked about private wells and potential privatization. Joyce said private wells are not allowed where municipal service exists and that Miller Woods is not part of Steger's municipal system and therefore would not be affected by a rate increase. She added that privatization would require a referendum and emphasized that, if system losses remain high, rates could need to rise substantially to cover costs.

The Water Committee meetings will be held prior to the first monthly Village Board meeting and are open to the public; the mayor said further information will be released when finance figures are available.