TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance for new water rates for contract communities set by the Regional Water Commission.
The commission's goal is to make payments the same for every community it serves and while some customers will be paying less, others, like people in Toledo, will pay 40% more over the next four years.
Council member Katie Moline says she understands the commission's goal. But she also says the people she represents are speaking out about how the changes impact them.
"I really do appreciate the cooperation, the regionalism, the amount of work that went into these rates," Moline said. "A lot of citizens reached out to me expressing how affordability, and more transparency as these rates were developed were needed and so, I just wanted to represent that voice."
Moline was one of three council members, along with Theresa Gadus and Theresa Morris, to vote against the rate changes.
Payments in Sylvania, Monroe County, Wood County, Whitehouse and Fulton County will decrease over the next couple of years.
Perrysburg and Maumee will see slight increases. People in some of those communities were paying some of the highest rates before the Regional Water Commission was formed in 2019.
Toledo will see a 10% increase each year over the next three years.
Council member George Sarantou voted for the rate changes. He said while Toledo will see an increase, there are ways for retirees with moderate income, seniors and people with low income to get a discount.
"That was the reason I voted for it because we are making provisions for people who have financial challenges," Sarantou said.
He said any increase will go right back into improving the system, ultimately hoping to avoid another water crisis in the city.
"We have to raise the rates a little bit basically to keep up with the cost," Sarantou said. "Water and clean water is so important to the citizens of Toledo and the area."
The new rates will go into effect next month.