Winslow water rates to increase this month

During the Winslow City Council meeting last week, the city updated its water and wastewater rates after a detailed presentation from consultants at Willdan, the city engineering consultant, who outlined the urgent need for the rate adjustments. The plan, was originally passed in 2020 and set for the years 2020-2029, has been impacted significantly by inflation rates exceeding initial forecasts. This inflation affects various operational costs, including energy and chemicals. This is why the city is having to change their rate plan for water to account for that. The city also chose not to follow that rate plan during the midst of the pandemic, the city thought it would be better to give residents a bit of a break in a time when people were in need. However, this decision has led to a shortfall that the city now seeks to address with the newly approved rate increases.

Starting in July, residents using approximately 5,000 gallons per month, who currently pay around $70, will see their bills rise to about $76. This increase will be followed by additional hikes each January until the end of the decade. By January 2025, the rate for the same usage will reach approximately $83, eventually climbing to $93 by 2029. This schedule represents an immediate 9% increase, another 9% in January, followed by two years of 4% increases. The years 2028 and 2029 will see smaller increases of 3.2%.