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utility rates

How the city sets and changes water, sewer, and electric bills.

What to Watch
Whether the city publishes the new sewer rate table and effective date, and whether the 2026 budgets lead to later rate changes for other utilities.
Coming Up

Typically discussed at City Council. Check back when the next agenda is published.

The Story

City Council voted 8-1 to change what residents pay for sewer service. A couple months later, two committees backed the 2026 utility budgets with no water or electric rate changes, even while several utility areas were described as running losses.

Key Decisions
  1. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Water Budget.

  2. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Water Budget.

  3. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Wastewater Budget.

  4. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Wastewater Budget.

  5. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Storm Water Utility Budget.

  6. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Storm Water Utility Budget.

  7. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Solid Waste Budget.

  8. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Solid Waste Budget.

  9. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Landfill Fund (Personnel and Finance): Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Landfill Budget.

  10. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Landfill Fund (Public Utilities): Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Landfill Budget.

  11. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Electric Utility Budget.

  12. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Electric Utility Budget.

  13. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Personnel and Finance: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Telecommunications Budget.

  14. passed Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint · Nov 6, 2025

    Review and Recommendations: 2026 Utilities Budget

    Public Utilities: Motion to recommend approval of the 2026 Telecommunications Budget.

  15. passed 8-1 City Council · Sep 15, 2025

    25-187 Ordinance to Amend Section 5-2-5 of the Municipal Code, "Amount of Sewer Service Charges"

    Motion to waive reading and adopt the ordinance, as recommended by the Public Works Committee

    Mark Bittner Yes
    Doug Brandt Yes
    Shannon Derby Yes
    Bill LeClair Yes
    Darla LeClair Yes
    Tim Petri Yes
    Bonnie Shimulunas Yes
    Scott Stechmesser Yes
    Adam Wachowski No
Record

  1. City Council adopted an ordinance changing the amounts of sewer service charges.

    City Council

  2. The sewer service charge ordinance passed on an 8-1 vote.

    City Council

  3. Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee recommended approval of the full slate of 2026 utility budgets.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint

  4. In the 2026 utility budgets, staff proposed no rate changes for water or electric.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint

  5. The 2026 utility budgets described operating losses in storm water, solid waste, electric, and telecommunications.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint

  6. The 2026 utility budgets described water as projecting a cash decline after debt payments.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint

  7. The 2026 utility budgets included staffing and pay changes, including new wastewater positions tied to WDNR requirements and electric wage adjustments.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint

  8. The 2026 utility budgets included maintenance and capital items including leak detection equipment, a bucket truck delivery, meters, and security cameras.

    Personnel and Finance Committee and Public Utilities Committee Joint
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