Kenton City Council Continues Discussions on Water and Sewer Rate Increases

Kenton City Council took up the issue of adjustments for water and sanitary sewer rates and the addition of stormwater sewer rates at the Monday evening meeting.

Under consideration is a recommendation from the finance committee to adopt water and sewer rates through 2025 as step one.

Step two would be to adopt an automatc annual increase of 3% beginning March 1, 2026.

That would be subject to Council reviewing on an annual basis with the ability to waive such an increase should the health of either or both enterprise funds would warrant such a waiver.

That would allow the City to see year end results and the following years budget with projected revenues to know what they’re going to be up against for the subsequent year and then be able to implement the rate change March 1.

The items introduced in new business dealing with the rates were on first reading Monday night.

Should they go to a full three readings, the legislation wouldn’t be passed until April 12, 2021 meaning an increase wouldn’t take place until sometime after that.

Also on first reading Monday night was an ordinance providing for additional appropriations for 2021. That was passed after suspension of the three reading rule.

Council is scheduled to meet again on March 22.