PORTAGE (WKZO AM/FM) — Portage homeowners have long complained that they pay more for their water and sewer bills than Kalamazoo Residents.
They still will after new rates take effect this summer, but they plan to close the gap with an actual rate decrease introduced this week.
It does not happen often.
The rate cut follows the recommendation of a committee set up to examine what the charges should be. Council Member Richard Ford says they have paid off some bonds and can now lower rates for water by 4%. They will retain enough in reserve to be able to address emergency repairs.
The typical system user will save about $30 a year beginning July 1st.
The City of Kalamazoo approved a 7% rate hike for city users earlier this year.
Ford says Portage’s rate is about average for comparable cities. Kalamazoo’s is nearly the lowest in the state.
Sewer bills rates will remain the same. One reason they are higheri n Portage than in Kalamazoo because Portage also folds the cost of maintaining storm sewers into that rate and Kalamazoo does not.
