By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Village of Darien board approved raising the sewer rate in the village by five percent at last week’s meeting. The board had previously approved the rate increase as part of the 2021 budget but it had not yet been implemented.
Village Administrator Lindsey Peterson said the village’s financial advisor recommended the village implement the rate increase as soon as possible. She said the jump, which will begin on bills mailed out Aug. 31, will help the village address a low cash balance in the sewer utility fund and allow the village to better address aging infrastructure. Petersen said the village has not raised its sewer rate since January of 2012.
“It’s unfortunate it’s taken so long to address this,” Village Trustee Cheryl Kaufenberg said, adding that the village should be proactive when it comes to utility rate adjustments.
Village President Jane Stiles said the sewer utility rate is generally higher than the water rate. She said the village needs to be sensitive to people on fixed budgets when it comes to rate increases. Even a minimal increase that seems minor to some may have a much greater impact to people counting every penny in their budgets, she said.
The board also approved a recommended water and sewer long-range cash flow analysis at a total cost of $4,000. Peterson said the analysis will help the village better plan for the future of its utilities and potential capital improvements and look for ways to improve the cash flow of the utilities.
More coverage from the meeting can be found in the July 29 Delavan Enterprise.
