Baltimore City residents are bracing for a likely increase in their sewer and water bills in February. As reported by WYPR, the Board of Estimates (BOE) plans to discuss and potentially vote on a proposal to raise sewer rates by 15% and water rates by 3%. The meeting will focus on this issue and is slated for Wednesday, January 22nd. The board will accept written testimony until noon the previous day.
Additional rate increases are on the horizon, with sewer and water rates projected to hike by 9% in FY 2026 and 2027. According to a piece by Baltimore Fishbowl, stormwater rates are also earmarked for a 3% increase each fiscal year. The pressures of inflation, costly emergency projects, and a decrease in the city's sewer and water bond ratings have been cited as the catalysts for these proposed rate changes.
During a meeting, Matthew Garbark, Baltimore City's Infrastructure Czar, highlighted that these rate hikes are a response to significant increases in operational costs, specifically referring to a 230% spike in chemical prices over two years. He stated, "We are treating the same volume. These are just the cost increases that have increased because of that," as reported by WYPR. These comments came amid discussions that high-volume users could experience a $20 jump in their monthly bills.
There is concern, however, about how these increases will affect the most economically vulnerable citizens. "It's a pretty historic rate hike not to have any type of rate analysis to go with that rate," David Wheaton, a policy council for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, imparted with WYPR. He stressed the absence of a transparent rate analysis that could give the public a clearer understanding of the basis for these substantial rate changes. The Department of Public Works has not immediately provided information regarding such an analysis.
