Springfield City Council to vote on proposal to raise water rates next two years

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Water rates could be on the rise in Springfield following tonight's City Council meeting.

"I understand that people have some problems with this water rate increase, but let me just say this, we've kicked the ball down the road too many times," said Chuck Redpath, a member of the Springfield City Council. "We're at the end of our rope. We can't afford to go on any longer with the way the rates are."

Tonight, council will vote on whether to accept a 32% increase in water rates for city residents, starting on March 1 of this year, in addition to an increase next year.

Some council members are concerned that residents may not be able to keep up with a surging water bill.

"I know we're doing a lot. You know, we're pretty much the best," Shawn Gregory, a member of council, said. "But our citizens, especially those in my community still feel every twist and move that we make."

"We need to know the amount of each year. 32% this year it goes up. In dollars, how many on your bill," asked Roy Williams, Jr. "And then the following year when it's the next 32, we also need to know that."

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• Two water rate hikes could be coming for CWLP customers

In a statement to WAND News, CWLP said, "As a community-owned water supply, we took great care in putting together a plan that retained great value to our customers. The provided plan calls for strategic investment in our water infrastructure in order to continue to provide reliable high quality water and concurrently also meet the required state lead line replacement mandates for our customers. This is the first rate increase we’ve had since the last in 2011, which funded a near top to bottom upgrade of our water purification plant and high and low service pump stations.

"The rate increase proposal we’ve made for the next two budgets will help us meet the lead service line mandate, replace older water mains with frequent break history,  dredge a portion of Lake Springfield, and cover the increases in chemical costs and regular operations and maintenance expenses that are necessary to operate a water system.”

Under new state law, the city will have 20 years to replace all water lines that once contained a lead gooseneck.

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