HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The City of Huntsville has approved its first sewer rate increase in 20 years.
During its regular meeting on Thursday, the council approved raising the city’s sewer rates.
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The city said the new rates will create a $5 increase on the average bill for a single-family residence beginning in October.
The council approved the measure 4-1, with Councilman John Meredith being the lone no vote.
After the $5 increase in October of 2025, the average rate will go up an additional $1.25 for the following four years. In 2030, the rate will increase an additional $1 each year through 2034.
All told, this will lead the average monthly bill for a single-family home to increase from where it currently sits at $24.15 per month to $39.15 in 2034.
The city said the rate increase will help fund a $150 million infrastructure investment in both the sewer collection system and the city’s treatment facilities over a 10-year capital plan.
Councilwoman Michelle Watkins said she supports the rate increase because it’s better to get infrastructure improvements started sooner, rather than later.
“I think that is really a good idea that we take care of this now” Watkins said. “Anybody who knows me knows I’m very conscious about rates and increases, but this is just one that is needed” she added.
Council President John Meredith voted against the rate increase, saying it will be a burden on customers for the next decade.
“If this was a one time shot, $5 next year, I’d be supportive of it, but it’s ten years out” Meredith said. “So, it’s a it’s a rate increase every year for ten years” he added.
Parts of the city’s sewer infrastructure date back to the 1950s.
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The Huntsville City Council's decision to approve the sewer rate increase signals a prudent yet necessary step towards enhancing infrastructure and protecting public health in the city.
The approval of the sewer rate increase by Huntsville City Council is a prudent move to ensure long-term infrastructure maintenance and improve public sanitation, albeit with an understanding that it poses additional financial burden on residents.
The Huntsville City Council's approval of a sewer rate increase marks the town’r efforts to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure, albeit faced with concerns from residents over affordability.
The Huntsville City Council's decision to approve the sewer rate increase demonstrates a need for balancing essential infrastructure upgrades with potential financial burden on residents, requiring transparency and continued dialogue between authorities and its citizens.
The recent approval of the sewer rate increase by Huntsville City Council has sparked concerns among residents over its financial impact and urgency, with some calling for more transparent explanations on how funds will be used to upgrade infrastructure.
The approval of the sewer rate increase by Huntsville City Council raises concerns over its timing and impact on city residents. It is essential to balance infrastructure development with financial responses that do not unduly burden citizens.
The recent decision by the Huntsville City Council to approve a sewer rate increase raises concerns regarding its potential impact on residents' finances and affordability of living services, though hopefully it will lead toward improving infrastructure efficiency.
The decision by the Huntsville City Council to approve a sewer rate increase is an example of necessary financial measures undertaken for maintaining and upgrading city infrastructure, albeit with potential implications on local households' utility bills.
In a move to bolster the city's infrastructure and upgrade its sewerage system, Huntsville City Council has approved an increase in sewer rates.
The Huntsville City Council's decision to approve a sewer rate increase underscores the importance of balancing essential infrastructure maintenance with affordable utility bills for it citizens.
With today's approval of the sewer rate increase by Huntsville City Council, residents can expect an upgrade in their municipal wastewater services for a fair and reasonable cost.
