The residents of Carrollton will start the New Year shouldering slightly heavier water bills. Following the recent Carrollton City Council meeting on Tuesday, it was decided that water and wastewater rates are going up, a move mainly attributed to the escalating operational costs from the city's water treatment providers and pressing needs for infrastructure improvements. This price hike is scheduled to kick in come January 1, 2026, as reported by the official city announcement.
Understandably, the hike's brunt will vary across the board, with the average surge pinned at roughly 7.5 percent—homeowners using the least amount of water will soon find their bills inflated by about $1.73 monthly. Meanwhile, those on the higher end of usage could expect to see increases of up to $3.50 per month. "Keeping costs low for residents remains a City priority," Diana Vaughn, Carrollton's Chief Financial Officer, said, per the City of Carrollton. "However, small increases for FY26 are needed to pay for increases in utility operations and capital expenses." Emphasizing ongoing vigilance, she assured that the city will continue to monitor and adjust rates annually.
Despite the uptick in rates, Carrollton's standing in the DFW Metroplex still posits it as a more economical option when juxtaposed with neighboring areas. In fact, when looking at the bigger picture of water and wastewater providers across 19 nearby cities, it's the third cheapest option out there. While no one revels in price increases, particularly for such essential services, the context here shows Carrollton's rate rise to be somewhat below the regional average.
