KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A 20% rate hike for City of Kalamazoo’s water and sewer services is scheduled for final approval tonight.
Several residents spoke out against the increases at the last City Commission meeting, and others may join in before the vote, but City Commissioners may not have any wiggle room on this one.
The rate hikes have been recommended by an independent consultant hired by the Local Wastewater Authority, which has already approved the proposed hikes. It’s the result of a court supervised process between the local cities and townships to set equitable rates.
City Utilities Director James Baker says they might be able to reconfigure water projects to lessen the impact on low income families, but the spike in inflation is threatening to put the wastewater system into the red.
Baker says if they delay water projects and can’t coordinate with scheduled road projects, it will wind up costing ratepayers more in the long term to get those projects done.
If approved tonight, sewer rates would jump 20% next month, and water rates would increase in January, and continue through 2023, with another double digit hike coming in 2024.
The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
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