Utility Rate Increase Approved By Board of Public Works

Due to inflationary increases in a number of items impacting the city’s water and wastewater systems, the Holden Board of Public Works unanimously approved an across-the-board 7 percent utility rate increase in its May 2 meeting. The increase does not pertain to debt service on a wastewater refinancing project.

The vote came after a 2022 rate study, which showed a 20 percent loss in drinking water costs and a 24 percent net in wastewater.

Holden Water Superintendent, Tony Lerda, provided the Board with information regarding random increases in various related costs such as gas, electric, trash, and pipe, among others. These were compared with the inflationary rate increase in 2015 and the last sewer cost increase in 2019 and 2023..

Lerda noted that some customers will notice a lower sewer charge than on previous billings. This, he said, would be a result of reducing sewer charges by $9.15, moving that charge to the water and increasing that charge by the same, $9.15. He added any increases to the billings would occur until the June billing cycle, meaning customers would not see an increased bill until July.

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