Chicago Water Rate Hike Would Mean Higher Bills For Suburbs Too
ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) -- Residents of DuPage County could be paying $5 to $6 more a month for water as early as Jan. 1, if Chicago goes forward with the mayor's plan to hike water rates.
As WBBM Newsradio's Dave Berner reports, many communities in DuPage County buy their water from Chicago.
DuPage Water Commission General Manager John Spatz said that, although rate hikes typically take effect in May, it's important to put them in place in January.
"When Chicago passes a large water rate increase through on us, we're gonna generally have to pass it on. We don't have the funds to be able to absorb water rate increases of that size," Spatz said.
He also said if they hold off until spring, it could mean a more significant water rate increase in order to catch up.
The city's plan calls for water rate hikes each year over the next four years and as it continues to increase rates, the suburbs will do the same.
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"Each year it would increase monthly (rates), based upon the additional increases (by Chicago)," Spatz said.
