Dupage Policy Journal

At the Dec. 1 meeting of the Village of Hanover Park Board, the board discussed having heard from a resident about the proposed increase in the water rate for next year. The resident was concerned  there wasn’t a sunset clause, meaning a specified end date for the increase, and how it would affect residents or renters in the area. The village is increasing its water rates by 5% each year for the next five years.

Juliana Maller, village manager, responded. She said the village has made the proposed change because the village’s expenditures along with upcoming improvement projects would deplete the village's revenues if the board did not bump up the rate. The rate is proposed for the next five years as the village completes the projects, but is not guaranteed to return after the five years, though they will reevaluate at that point.

“And we haven’t had an increase for eight years, so we haven’t had an increase but now in order to do the work that is needed we will need to impose a rate increase at this time,” Maller said.

The village is also looking toward a 5% cost increase from the city of Chicago for their water, which is another cost that needs to be addressed. The estimate is an average user in the village would see an increase in their water bill between $40-and $60.

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Municipal Building in room 214 on 2121 West Lake St.