Water, sewer rates on the rise

SANDUSKY — Sandusky city commissioners recently approved an increase for both water and sewer rates. These hikes apply to every customer, about 10,000, in the city who receives a utility bill. Customers should take note of the following: • This year's price hike, going into effect in June, only applies to water rates. • Next year's uptick, scheduled for Jan. 1, is, again, only for water rates. • The next set of increases would happen annually on Jan. 1 from 2026 through 2030 and applies to both water and sewer rates. • For the average customer, that user can expect a monthly bill increase to range from as low as $2.41 to as high as $3.80. • For the average customer, that user can expect a monthly bill to range as low as $76.65 to as high as $93.25 People can visit cityofsandusky.com/utilityrates for more information. What's the reason? Following two years of prices holding steady on both fronts, officials noted various reasons for the need to raise water and sewer rates. "There is no one golden egg answer," city manager John Orzech said. "There are a lot of factors playing into this." Here are some as explained by two city officials: finance director Michelle Reeder and public works director Aaron Klein: • Higher expenses — The cost of chemicals and for overall plant operations continues to increase because of inflation. Sanduksy's water plant is on First Street, and its sewer/wastewater plant is on Harrison Street. • Lower usage — Customers are using much less water these days possibly due to conservation efforts. • Budget concerns — Sandusky's water fund balance shows a staggering shortfall. Without an increase in rates, officials project a $723,000 shortfall this year with it growing to as much as $17 million in 2030. "We have to make adjustments or else we will be in the negative, and it's not getting any better," Reeder said. "If we don't do a rate increase, there is not enough revenue to cover our expenses." State law mandates the city's $30.7 million everyday operating budget would need to offset any deficits. Here's the problem arising there: Officials already dedicate every cent to daily services residents depend upon, namely police and fire operations, recreation programs and road maintenance. They would need to substantially take away from these operations in hopes of stabilizing the water fund. It's not a viable option, they said. Staff members noted raising rates, thus placing a heavier burden on ratepayers, is a difficult but necessary action to take. "This is to cover our costs," Klein said. "We'll still make sure that we are not overspending, and we won't buy more chemicals or go out and hire more staff than we need to. And if we need chemicals, it will help cover costs. We are not looking to do extra stuff at our plants. This is to maintain our current operations." Klein also made a promise to residents. "The most important reason we're doing this is to ensure we can maintain the public's confidence by supplying safe, healthy, potable water so that they can have a good quality of life," Klein said. "We don't have issues like what happened in Flint, Michigan, or anywhere else. We don't have to shut down our water system because we do take a proactive approach." Comparing rates in the region Sandusky's present-day monthly rate for both water and sewer totals $73.33. Even with planned increases through 2030, Sandusky's price would fall short of what Bellevue ($93.33), Clyde ($96.23) and Elyria ($96.92) charges its residents today. Without a price hike, however, Sandusky's rate already tops Erie County ($70.96 in one district and $66.26 in another), Huron ($69.81) and Fremont ($64.60). The state average, meanwhile, hovers at $80.57, which Sandusky would approach by 2025. "But comparisons aren't always a true measure. Like with people's houses, they have different budgets and buy different things," Klein said. "Some of these communities don't have a water plant or a wastewater treatment plant. We do. So that means they don't have to raise their rates as high as we might."