{"id":20793,"date":"2024-10-16T09:51:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T13:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=20793"},"modified":"2024-10-16T09:51:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T13:51:54","slug":"decatur-utility-rate-increases-approved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/16\/decatur-utility-rate-increases-approved\/","title":{"rendered":"Decatur utility rate increases approved"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By BOB SHRALUKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decatur water customers are going to see an increase in rates with their next bill, followed by a rise in sewage rates the first of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With expenses overwhelming revenues in both departments, city council on Tuesday approved two-step increases in each, the water rate becoming effective immediately and the other hikes at the start of 2025 ane 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The approvals, each by a 5-0 vote, followed a pair of public hearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Wilson and Jenessa Carter, Crowe LLC reps who studied the city’s water and sewer finances, had issued their findings at a council meeting last month. They were on hand again Tuesday to reiterate what they had discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Jennifer Wilson (left), Janessa Carter<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wilson, who handled the water study, said that by 2022 the city was no longer bringing in enough revenue to cover expenses, a portion of which cover debt service. So she recommended the immediate rate boost of 28%, followed by a 12% rise in January of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the average water customer, that would mean an increase of $12.42 per month, followed by a hike of $6.83 to start 2026, she pointed out. Which would translate to a combined $19.25 more a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers outside the city but using city water would see boosts of $10 and then $5.58 in January of 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter’s sewage study called for a 10% increase beginning the first of the year, followed by a 14% boost in January of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That would bring for the average sewage customer in Decatur a rise of $4.68 followed by $7.12, a total of $11.80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those numbers would be $7.02 and $10.79, a total of $17.81, for customers outside the city’s boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter’s sewage study recommended a 10% increase starting in 2025, then 14% in January of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That would bring for the average sewage customer in Decatur a rise of $4.68 followed by $7.12, a total of $11.80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those numbers would be $7.02 and $10.79, a total of $17.81, for customers outside the city’s boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both women underscored the fact that many Indiana cities are dealing with rate hikes due to soaring expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increases will be Decatur’s first in eight or nine years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LARGE CROWD: A crowd of some 25 or so people turned out for the public hearing, with only three speaking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of those on hand apparently reside outside Decatur but send their sewage to the city and thought there were going to be hit with the 10% and 14% hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city, however, charges the regional sewer district only 23%, so those residents will be charged just 10% and 14% of that 23%, much smaller increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only three people spoke during the public hearing for the sewage hike and were informed that they should seek answers from the regional sewer district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will reach out to them; that’s interesting. Thank you,\u201d said Craig Engle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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