Downtown microbusiness owner tells Montgomery council 135% water/sewer spike hit her business

A downtown microbusiness owner identified in the meeting record as Patricia Lova told the Montgomery City Council on Jan. 13 that her business received a January water and sewer bill that rose by roughly 135% from the prior month despite “0” measured water usage.

“Today, I am being charged $45 for the first 2,000 gallons of water and $45 for the first 2,000 gallons for sewage,” Lova said during the public forum. “This is $90 per month before any usage…A 135% rate increase for basically 0 usage is not reasonable.”

Lova said she leases a small downtown space with one sink and one toilet and called herself a microbusiness, arguing the recent changes impose a disproportionate burden on the smallest local businesses. She contrasted the rate increases with incentives and infrastructure agreements the city has offered to major retailers, listing Kroger, Home Depot and HEB as examples and saying corporate deals have included multi‑year rebates and infrastructure reimbursements.

City staff did not provide a billing explanation during the public comment period; Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Fox offered to speak with the commenter after the meeting. The council did not take immediate action on rates at the Jan. 13 meeting.

Context: Lova said residents have reported decreases in water bills of 5–60% while some downtown businesses saw triple‑digit increases. Her remarks framed the changes as an equity concern for historic downtown businesses amid recent economic development deals that included tax and infrastructure incentives for large retailers.

What’s next: Lova said she expects others to come forward. Council members did not announce a schedule for a dedicated review of utility billing at the meeting.