Committee forwards 3.5% wastewater-rate increase recommendation to full board to match wholesale hike

Speaker 4, a staff member, reported that wholesale wastewater costs will increase by about 3.5% effective Jan. 1 and asked the committee to consider a matching retail increase. "There is a 3 and a half percent increase, and we would ask the board to consider a match for the retail percentage increase as well," Speaker 4 said.

Committee members emphasized that sewer work is capital intensive, noting aging lines, failing pumps and costly replacement work. Speaker 1 and Speaker 3 described much of the city’s sewer lines as 50–60 years old and stressed the need for increased capital spending to replace failing infrastructure.

Speaker 2 moved to pass staff’s wastewater recommendations (roughly 3.5% increase) to the full board; Speaker 1 seconded, and the committee voted by hand/voice to forward the recommendation. The full board will next consider the retail wastewater-rate proposal.