Baltimore residents may soon experience increased water bills following a recent proposal by the city's Department of Public Works (DPW). According to reports from CBS News Baltimore, DPW has outlined a strategy that calls for a three-year increase in water and sewer utility rates starting in fiscal year 2025.
The proposed rate hikes are part of an effort to maintain financial stability and support necessary improvements to the city’s water system, whose infrastructure is aging. If approved by the Board of Estimates, water bills for Baltimore City homes are expected to rise by 9.66% on February 1, 2025. DPW has scheduled a presentation on the rate proposal for December 18, with an anticipated spending board vote on January 22, 2025, as reported by WMAR-2 News.
DPW Director Khalil Zaied emphasized the importance of the rate increases, saying, "This rate increase is a critical component of our comprehensive strategy to safeguard the safety, reliability, and quality of the services we deliver." Zaied shared, as CBS News Baltimore detailed, the necessity of the move to address "rising costs driven by inflation and evolving regulatory requirements." These escalations would result in an 8.4% rise in FY26 and another 8.4% in FY27.
Under the new plan, household water bills, which typically stand at $130.21, may jump to $142.79 in FY25, according to the current projections. The Consumer Price Index increase of 19.4% between January 2021 and July 2024 provides a backdrop for these proposed rates, demonstrating the bite of inflation, as detailed by WMAR-2 News. Meanwhile, assistance programs like Water4All and PromisePay remain in place to support residents struggling with utility payments.
DPW has organized several meetings to involve the community and address concerns, with the first scheduled for January 9, 2025. These gatherings will cover the proposed utility rate increases and allow residents to provide feedback.
