Waste, stormwater fee increases coming

Louisville City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to pass rate increases in wastewater and stormwater fees.

The average water, wastewater, stormwater and trash bill is expected to increase $4 per month. Wastewater fees will increase 8% and stormwater fees will increase 9%. However, the monthly residential bill is project to only increase 3.8%.

Cory Peterson, deputy director of utilities, presented the utility rate increases. Peterson said that Louisville has used a “smoothing” method of introducing rate increases, where the increase is averaged out and increased over a period of time rather than a huge increase all at once.

Peterson said that increase come to ensure that there is sufficient revenue to provide public works operations and facilitate future planning and budgeting. He said that there are capital improvement projects that there are currently wastewater improvement and stormwater flood plain improvement projects that have influenced the rate increase, as well as inflation.

Water utility rate is not projected to increase until 2029, according to Peterson.

Councilmember Chris Leh said that the “smoothing” method to increase rate increases are preferable. He said that the rate increases are more likely to affect those on a fixed income, and that providing more information about why there is an increase in city communications would be beneficial.

“The city could provide some good information to make sure that it’s explained. There’s good reasons for this increase,” Leh said.

Councilmember Maxine Most said that the city also needs to communicate with residents who may not know that they can receive utility assistance.

Director of Public Works Kurt Kowar said that there is an informational letter in all mailed water bills that will explain the rate increase.

He said that the letter can include information about assistance programs. He said that the letter will go out in April, the rate increase will go into effect in May, and the first financial impact to residents will have to be paid in June.