Your water and sewer bills will be going up, in large part to support more than $9 million in necessary upgrades to the two utilities.
Earlier this month, the South Milwaukee Common Council approved a 35 percent sewer increase, effective July 1. The new sewer rates will be phased in based on consumption and the fixed rate. For example, those receiving their bills around August 1 will see one month’s consumption at the new rate and three month’s at the previous rates. The fixed rates will be pro-rated as well.
In the future, sewer rates will increase 5 percent each year starting in 2019, to help us better “pay as we go” for system upgrades, especially lining and replacement of sewer pipes, where a significant backlog exists.
The initial sewer bill increase equates to an extra $30.05 per four-month billing period for the average homeowner.
A water rate increase is likely coming later this year, as the Wisconsin Public Service Commission is in the process of reviewing the Water Utility’s rate application. Although the final increase is not known at this time, an estimated increase of between 30 to 35 percent is anticipated.
These are the first increases in these charges in more than five years.
The increases primarily reflect additional spending to construct a $3.5 million wastewater lift station and $6.5 million for water pumping station and clearwells at the water utility. I previously reported on details of both of those projects.
The common council approved bids for the wastewater project on June 5. Of note, they came back higher than expected due to competition for local contractors, especially those who specialize in earth moving, the complexity of the project, which calls for the replacement of the aging lift station on North Chicago Avenue.
Importantly, even with the increases, our water and sewer rates will remain competitive. For example, the cost of one year of sewer service for a $150,000 home with a typical consumption of 6,000 cubic feet per year is $348.15 annually. With the increase, that would go to $388.83. That compares with $513 in Oak Creek, $478.50 in Cudahy, and $589.74 in Franklin.
Look for more information on the proposed water increase in coming months.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Just wonderful news, like the 90,000 dollars spent on our new city logo
Time to get a part time job just to live here….unreal. It’s going to be sad seeing the lifers leave because they can’t afford to live here.
The “ lifers” are just that, lifers, there will be no uproar and they will pass the school referendum as they did the trickster police and EMT referendum.
so you would advocate letting the entire infrastructure just rot away then? let the next generation worry about it?
So is the city raising sewer rates 30% and the water department raising water rates 56%?
No, sewer rates are going up on average 35%. Water rates will likely increase about the same, pending Public Service Commission approval.
For those, like me, that are not thrilled about this, this time remember that when you go to the polls and somebody has their hand out to grab more of your money. It doesn’t matter if it is going into the city’s right pocket or their left one.
Having a plan is hard to do. You have to come to a complete stop and look at what you are doing. You have two rates fixed faculties charge and a use rate. When you have major expenses for facilities and you then increase the use rate,.you miss what your trying to do. You need to recover cost of providing fix facilities. This should be part of the fix facility rate. What the difference is, I can use water and pay a fair price for the water I use. Verses having to conserve water to avoid paying for facilities. that is built into the use rate.Where having a p[an comes in to this knowing the cost of facilities verses the cost of the water itself. Thus, I would pay a higher fixes rate but a lower variable rate. Thus, my conversation of water use is a lot less. .AKA I get more out of the service.
For example, the cost of one year of sewer service for a $150,000 home with a typical consumption of 6,000 cubic feet per year is $348.15 annually ~ in this example is the assumption that the cost for sewer service is according to the homes value. Makes no sense. Sewer costs are the same no matter what the value of the home is aren’t they?