HOPE — Hope residents will receive an update tonight about how much their water bills could go up.
But it appears the fourth increase in as many years won’t be as high as originally expected. In a public notice, the town announced the ordinance being considered would provide for an overall 10 percent reduction in next year’s final rate increase.
A public hearing, followed by a possible vote, will be at the Hope Town Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall council chambers, on the northeast corner of the Hope Town Square.
In the first rate hike in 11 years, the town increased water rates in September 2015 to help fund a $3 million water system improvement project. At that time, the average bill rose from $28.13 to $45 a month in the first of a two-phase hike, according to information provided at that time to the council.
Thanks to a $925,000 grant obtained through the state revolving fund, the second hike was limited to an 8.5 percent increase. That rate hike, which took place in the fall of 2016, was lower than town officials initially expected.
But in the spring of 2017, a 48 percent rate increase was requested by Eastern Bartholomew County Water Corp., which supplies Hope with its water supply.
It was necessary to charge customers more to offset higher operating and maintenance costs, along with the need for substantial capital improvements, the utility stated.
A settlement that limited Eastern Bartholomew’s increase to 27.8 percent was reached with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor last August.
In order to absorb their higher costs, the Hope Town Council again agreed to a two-phase increase in April. The average residential user was expected to see monthly bills rise this year to $52, consultant Otto W. “Buzz” Krohn of Westfield told the council last spring.
Estimates made in April on the final phase, which is expected to go into effect in early 2019, were that rates could jump an additional 9.6 percent.
But in examples of increases provided in the public notice, next year’s increase is likely to be limited to a few more dollars a month above current rates for most residents.
Over the past three years, some community residents and council members have talked about their concerns regarding the financial impact higher water rates are having on low-income residents. Hope’s median per capita income is $19,908, compared with $29,588 in Columbus, according to census research.
Many Hope residents are on fixed incomes, and about 10 percent are 65 or older, according to the census.
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The Hope Town Council will conduct a public hearing on the final phase of the town’s latest water rate increase at 5:30 p.m. today.
After the hearing, an ordinance that will reduce the 2019 rate increase by 10 percent from what was estimated last spring will be considered by the council.
The council meets in the Hope Town Hall, located at 404 Jackson St. on the northeast side of the Hope Town Square.
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