Have you noticed a change in your Appleton wastewater utility costs? Increases add up!
Like a flushed toilet’s downward spiral of wastewater, the cost to Appleton’s taxpayers to treat wastewater continues to spiral up.
Here is a chronology of costs over the last few years:
The 2021 Appleton City Budget Mayor’s Letter to residents cites:
- “…the Wastewater Utility contracted with an independent consultant in 2020 to review the Utility’s financial condition and make recommendations to ensure the financial viability of future operations. In accordance with the recommendations from that study, the 2021 Budget includes an unavoidable rate increase in 2021 that reflects an approximate increase of 20% in overall revenues. As detailed in the study, the increase is proposed to go into effect on 1/1/2021 with actual increases, based on customer type, varying between 17% and 25%. The average residential customer will see a quarterly increase on the City Service Invoice of approximately $13. Additionally, based on future financial projections, the study recommends annual rate increases of 4% in 2022 through 2025 in order to meet future cash flow needs.”
In reality, with a 4% increase in 2022,
- The 2023 Budget included a rate increase of 4% for general service and 5%for the special hauled waste program.
- The 2024 Budget included a rate increase of7% for general service and the hauled waste program. The rate increase is necessary for continuing support of needed capital projects and increased operational costs.
- The 2025 Budget includes a rate increase of 9%based on increasing operating costs and ongoing maintenance and repairs of equipment.
This actually cumulatively amounts to a 49% increase over 5 years…check out the facts at allthingsappleton.com, October 24, where you will find the Memorandum requesting the increase, comparative figures of surrounding communities and the transcript of the committee meeting.
