JACKSON, MI – A decision to increase water and sewer rates in the city of Jackson has been postponed.
In a Tuesday, May 27 meeting, the Jackson City Council voted 4-3 to postpone a decision to raise the rates for the fiscal years of 2025-26 and 2026-27. Mayor Daniel Mahoney, who motioned to postpone the decision, said the delay would allow city council to consider the resolution and hear from residents.
“I’m just thinking about ultimately, who I have to report to is the (30,000) citizens in the community who this directly affects and their pocketbooks,” Mahoney said.
The city council was presented with three rate options, but City Manager Jonathan Greene recommended Option #1. This option would increase the rates by about 12% for water and 28% for sewer.
With the proposed increase, a city resident could expect to pay $15 more on their quarterly water bill, averaging $142.62, and an increase of $18 for sewer, averaging $80.94. Currently, an average resident pays $127.62 for water and $62.94 for sewer.
The rate increase would fund the lead service line replacement program as well as compensate for a significant reduction in one of the largest ratepayer’s usage. In 2021, Consumers Energy drilled its own well for the water needed to operate its gas-fired electric generating plant on Chapin Street on the city’s east side.
Related: Consumers Energy drills well at power plant, city loses significant revenue from largest customer
The increase would also cover the cost of operating the city’s aging water treatment plant and its associated materials, which have been hit with heavy inflation. Additionally, it would compensate for residents using less water, which Bendzinski & Co. Municipal Finance Advisors representative Andy Campbell attributed to recent colder summers and people installing higher efficiency appliances.
Ward 1 city councilmember Arlene Robinson, Ward 3 city councilmember Angelita Gunn and Ward 5 city councilmember Christy Davis voted to postpone with Mahoney.
Ward 4 city councilmember Conner Wood, Ward 2 city councilmember Freddie Dancy and Ward 6 city councilmember Will Forgrave voted ‘no.’
Dancy said that he understood that an increase could hurt the pocketbooks for residents, but thought they should have voted on the rates that night. Wood and Forgrave echoed his concerns, with Wood stating, ‘sooner or later, we are going to have to invest in our water and sewer infrastructure.’
“I think there is a very real concern in the community about the ability to pay as individuals, I respect that,” Wood said. “There is also very real concern in my mind about our ability to pay as a community if we don’t make these investments, and God forbid that happens.”
The Jackson City Council will consider the water and sewer rates again during their next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 on the second floor of Jackson City Hall, 161 West Michigan Ave.
Greene said staff will be able to handle the delay but may face some stress as they try to notify residents of the new rate change before the fiscal year ends at the end of June.
Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Jackson” daily newsletter.
