Village Considers Water Rate Hike

Buffalo Grove residents could see a spike in their water bills in 2013, under a proposal to increase rates annually beginning Jan. 1.

Village Finance Director Scott Anderson presented a plan last month to boost the village’s combined water and sewer rate by 35 percent in 2013. The increase would set the village’s rate at $4.05 per 1,000 gallons, resulting in an additional $13.65 charge to the average customer’s two-month bill.

The plan also calls for a 30 percent increase in 2014, making the village’s combined rate $5.26. After the second increase, the average customer would pay $21.51 more per bill than they pay now, Anderson said. The estimate is based on use of 6,500 gallons per month.

Beginning in 2015, the rate would increase by 4 percent annually to keep up with inflation.

Increased water rates would cover expenses relating to the village’s water system, while also beginning to generate funds for future infrastructure costs, Anderson said. The village maintains 181 miles of water mains, a system the village values at $200 million.

From 1983 to 2005, the village spent about half a million on the system. As it ages, those costs will increase, said Anderson, who noted that the village has spent $4 million in more recent years. Those funds have been spent on the deep well system, water main replacement and lift station repairs, he said.

An increased rate, Anderson said, “will cover our operating expenses, it will cover capital, and within several years start building up emergency reserve funding.”

At $3 per 1,000 gallons, Buffalo Grove’s current rate is well below the rates assessed in Palatine ($4.80), Arlington Heights ($5.05) and Wheeling ($6.30). The four towns are all members of the Northwest Water Commission, which purchases water from the same source. A review of 50 suburban towns revealed that Buffalo Grove’s rate is about half that of the average municipality.

“I agree that at this point it would not be responsible to continue at that price,” Trustee Andrew Stein said.

Village President Jeff Braiman said he, too, supported the proposal.

“I think we’ve had cheap water for a long time. Unfortunately, we have to raise, and I think this is a reasonable way to do it," he said.

Officials were poised to vote on the proposal June 18. They postponed their decision at the request of resident Rob Sherman, who said the wording on the village’s agenda, which simply described it as an amendment to village code, did not sufficiently explain the proposal.

“This does not provide adequate and fair and reasonable notice to the residents of the village that you are proposing to raise our water rates,” said Sherman, who added that he agrees that it’s time for an increase.

“It’s evasive language, it’s tricky language, it’s deceptive language, from my perspective," Sherman said.

Village officials agreed to post the proposal in clearer language on the July 9 meeting agenda and vote on it that night. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at .