Lake Forest residents will see their water rates increase starting May 1.
More Top Picks School Accommodations For Sensory Processing Disorder
The City Council approved an increase of 13 cents per 1,000 gallons of water at its Feb. 16 meeting.
A family of four that typically uses about 200,000 gallons per year would pay $26 more for water annually, said Elizabeth Holleb, director of finance for the city.
“This year it is simply an operational increase,” Holleb said. “It’s mostly personnel-driven. Salaries and insurance for employees is driving much of that.”
The increase is estimated to bring in an additional $168,362, according to documents on the city website.
The city tends to increase rates every year, Holleb said.
“That’s just to keep pace with inflation and to avoid a year where the increase is particularly onerous,” Holleb said.
Lake Forest operates its own water plant that is run solely on user fees, Holleb said.
In other news, the council also approved paying up to an additional $271,403 to contractors for clean-up at the former municipal services building at Laurel and Western avenues. The money is for unanticipated conditions including below grade foundations, abandoned utilities and remnants of buildings demolished decades ago, according to documents on the city website.
Twitter: @reporterdude