Bloomington homeowners could be paying roughly $70 more a year for water, sewer and garbage service under a 2027 rate plan that was scheduled to go before the city council Monday night. The proposal calls for a 3% increase on water, a 4% bump each for stormwater and solid waste, and a steep 9% hike on wastewater rates — the biggest jump of the bunch.
Council Weighs Rate Hikes Monday Night
The Bloomington City Council was set to hold a public hearing Monday night on the proposed increases before voting on the plan, according to KSTP.com.
Deputy Finance Officer Kari Carlson told the station the city could not keep service at its current level without raising costs. She said the city forecasts utility increases well in advance, tries to keep them reasonable, and typically refines the numbers downward as the actual vote approaches, the same report notes.
Wastewater Jump Tied to Sewer Project
The wastewater rate is proposed to climb the most among the four categories, rising 9% compared to the smaller increases proposed for water, stormwater and solid waste. That spike is driven mainly by the North Central Sanitary Sewer Project, which is meant to add capacity for development in the Penn American District, according to BloomingtonAI. The outlet reported construction on that sewer project began in April 2026 and is expected to continue into fall 2027.
City notices posted ahead of the hearing confirm the scope of what was under consideration. One City of Bloomington notice identified a hearing to consider an ordinance amending Appendix A of the city code to adjust water and wastewater service rates under Chapter 11. A separate notice covered a second ordinance amending solid-waste and refuse-collection fees, also under Chapter 11.
Residents Push Back on Cost Pressure
Councilman Tom Kendall said he hoped another option could be possible as residents' costs continue to rise. He said the cost of everything is putting increased pressure on people and making it harder for them to make ends meet, per the KSTP report. Kendall also remarked on the timing of the discussion overlapping with the Vikings playing football that night.
Resident Susan Kilby asked why the price increases were needed in the first place, the station reported. The rate plan under discussion follows a pattern from the prior year, when the council adopted a 6% wastewater rate increase after staff presentations and public testimony, according to Citizen Portal. That earlier action also included a revised solid-waste fee structure with an every-other-week collection option and repriced cart sizes, with the ordinance passing 4–2 after residents raised equity and cost concerns, the outlet reported.
