PERRYSBURG, Ohio —
Perrysburg residents will notice an increase in their water and sewer rates starting next month.
The water rates will increase by 10% and the sewer rates will increase by 6% on Aug. 1. The same increases will occur on Jan. 1 of 2025 and 2026.
After conducting a rate assessment, Matthew Choma, the Perrysburg director of public utilities, said it became clear rates needed to increase earlier than expected.
"We saw that we were going to have an issue with not having accounted for the effects of COVID, the inflation that had occurred and the capital projects we had laid out," Choma said.
Choma said the increases were not an easy decision and he understands that people are currently paying more for goods.
"Those same cost increases impact us too, whether it's buying material, buying new fire hydrants, brass fittings, all of these costs have increased," Choma said. "The cost to do water main projects have increased in one year alone by 17%."
Choma said the increased rates had to be approved by Perrysburg City Council, which took months to be finalized.
"We trimmed away projects," Choma said. "We pushed projects out, accelerated purchases of some equipment so it could happen within a certain calendar year so that that would not be affecting the ratepayers moving forward."
Choma said the money will go toward maintenance of waterlines throughout the city, some ranging from 75-100 years old.
"What you try to do is minimize the impact of those breaks by doing maintenance of your system," Choma said. "It's like changing the oil in your engine."
Choma said some of the projects will include checking on waterline systems since the city does not know the conditions of them.
"It might be in great condition, but we have to evaluate and figure out what are we dealing with here," he said.
The city is working with the Salvation Army to set up an assistance program to help people with the increased rates.
The city has more information on its website on what went into the decision and how the money will be spent.