Dupage Policy Journal

The village of Burr Ridge recently approved a rate plan for the city's water and sewer prices for the next five years.

During the Feb. 28 Village Of Burr Ridge board meeting, officials were presented with a rate plan for the city's water and sewer prices for the next five years after many hours of review and consideration from the Water committee. The committee previously brought in a consultant in 2020 to analyze the water systems to create a plan for them. The analysis included a lot of water main studies and replacing leaking or old mains to improve efficiency and prevent any leaks. 

"So this is the end result of a significant amount of work direction thought that has been placed before you tonight as the direction of the water committee and trustees Paveza, Franzese, and Snyder have spent a lot of nights with staff reviewing water and sewer rates," Burr Ridge Village Administrator Evan Walter said at the meeting. "The most fun job you can have in the village, but I think we've come up with an idea and a recommendation that is supported by science and makes fiscal sense for the village and its residents."

The committee was advising a five-year rate increase of 7% in FY2024; 5% in FY2025, FY2026, and FY2027; and 3% in FY2028. The village will also pass along any rate increases they receive from Bedford Park, their supplier, alongside these increases. The rates and increases are set to fund the $12 million capital investment plan that the village has created and be able to finance the detailed maintenance, replacement, and expansion projects of the village’s water supply systems. Sewer rates will increase by $5 a month each year over the next five years to build up sewer funds for future projects as well.

The committee also recommended switching to monthly billing instead of bimonthly billing, along with some restructuring of the water use tiers and their respective charges. The city staff stressed that these rate increases were both to keep up with rising costs and demand, and also to create more cushion in their capital projects funds so that they can avoid major increases in the coming years when they take on some of the big infrastructure projects. The board approved the ordinance as presented and adopted the five-year plan.