Carl Junction adopts water-rate increase; ordinance 26-13 set to take effect June 1

The Carl Junction Board of Aldermen adopted an ordinance to raise the city's minimum monthly water charge, voting unanimously among those present on May 5, 2026. Chair announced the ordinance passed and assigned it as ordinance 26-13; the increase is slated to take effect June 1, 2026.

Staff presented a rate analysis that recommended a roughly 10% increase to base charges, driven in part by higher electricity costs for operating the system and the need to prevent deficit spending. "This rate will produce up to, you know, if we have a good year where there's dry and everybody uses a lot of water, you know, we could have $2,000,000, $2,100,000 worth of revenue on there," a staff member said, adding that on a normal year revenues are expected around $1.7–$1.88 million. The same staff member said the current low-user charge is about $14.39 with an additional $4.67 thereafter and that the proposed increase would move many low users to roughly $21–$22 per month.

Board members referenced a federal recommendation raised during discussion. "The EPA had it their way, $300 a month minimum," one member said in criticizing that approach; staff said the city would not adopt anything close to that figure and noted prior federal SRF loan conditions required equality in rate structure. A member asked whether the city offers a hardship or reduced rate for elderly residents; staff replied that no reduced rate currently exists.

Procedurally, the board moved the ordinance through first and second reading (by title only) and then voted to proceed to a final roll-call vote. The chair reported a hand vote to proceed to final of six in favor with two members absent; the roll call produced unanimous affirmative responses from members present. The chair announced the ordinance passed and recorded ordinance number 26-13.

The ordinance text read into the record amends Title 7, Utilities, Chapter 705 (Water), Article 3 (User Charge System), section 705.33 (actual use rate structure) to increase water rates effective June 1, 2026. The board did not adopt a formal low-income assistance program during the meeting; members and staff discussed options and noted that prior SRF loan terms influenced the rate structure. The board did not specify additional implementation steps or a timeline beyond the effective date announced in the ordinance.