Overview
- The city council picked the third of four proposals on August 10 and set new fixed customer charges, with the 15–28% increase scheduled to take effect September 1.
- City engineers and officials say the system is losing about 40–46% of treated water due to leaking pipes, meter failures and other equipment problems, which they say requires immediate capital and operating funds.
- Hundreds of residents filled City Hall on Monday to protest the hike, the council limited public comments to two minutes because of turnout, and speakers said many cannot afford the higher bills.
- Residents and small businesses provided bills showing some accounts in the thousands and others expecting quarterly totals above $300, while the mayor said the city will offer payment assistance and has hired outside help to locate leaks and replace meters.
- Officials promised to cap future annual increases near 3% for several years, and city leaders say decades of deferred maintenance forced the current choice, a move that could push some households and small firms to cut spending or relocate.