Public money · Park Ridge
Water and sewer rate increases adopted by the City Council
AI-assisted researchHow this was researched and checkedThe City Council adopted 5 ordinances raising water and sewer charges, from November 7, 2018 to March 2, 2026, each on a consent agenda without dissent. Per the staff memos, the water rate per thousand gallons rose from $7.97 to $10.55 and the sewer rate from $1.42 to $2.24. The latest ordinance raised the smallest meters' fixed charge from $10.50 to $15.23, matching the proposed budget's 45% increase to flat-fee water fixed charges, tied largely to a federal mandate to replace water service lines. The records do not say why the latest sewer fixed charge rose more than the 7% planned.
Why this connection matters
Water and sewer charges are billed to every property connected to the City system, so the adopted rates show how the usage and fixed charges on those bills changed over the years these records cover.
Research as of · 12 independent sources of evidence.
What changed, and when did it take effect?
Source record · Oct 22, 2018
Committee review of the first increase
The Committee of the Whole discussed utility billing rates on October 1, 2018; its minutes record a consultant recommendation that the meter charge be reallocated between small and large meters, and the committee chair's view that there was consensus for the existing structure with muted increases. On October 22, 2018 it approved placing the rate ordinance on the Council agenda by a roll call of 7–0. The staff memo noted the multi-year water and sewer rate study the Council had commissioned, and it attributed the water increase to higher wholesale prices for water bought from the City of Chicago.
p. 2 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-22, Committee of the Whole, Oct 22 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-01, Committee of the Whole, Oct 1 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 2 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-01, Committee of the Whole, Oct 1 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-22, Committee of the Whole, Oct 22 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-01, Committee of the Whole, Oct 1 2018. Open the quote and source.
Source record · Nov 7, 2018
The first increase in these records
On November 7, 2018, the City Council approved the rate ordinance as part of its consent agenda, which carried by roll call 7–0, and the Council later approved the minutes of that meeting. The staff memo listed the water rate per thousand gallons rising from $7.97 to $8.11, the sewer rate from $1.42 to $1.51, the sewer fixed charge per billing period from $3.35 to $3.55 and the fixed water charge for the smallest meters from $9.63 to $9.68. The draft ordinance in the packet set the new rates from January 1, 2019, and the Municipal Code's later history lists it as Ordinance No. 2018-40, dated November 7, 2018.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2018-11-19, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 5 · Draft minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Draft minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Draft minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
Show all 11 sources
Source record · Dec 19, 2022
Flat rates, then the second increase
The next rate memo said water and sewer charges had stayed flat since January 2019. After the Committee of the Whole's 7–0 voice vote on December 5, 2022, the Council approved the second rate ordinance as part of its consent agenda on December 19, 2022, which carried by roll call 7–0. Its memo listed the water rate rising from $8.11 to $8.92 per thousand gallons, the sewer rate from $1.51 to $1.74, the sewer fixed charge from $3.55 to $4.08 and the fixed water charge for the smallest meters from $9.68 to $10.16, and its draft ordinance set them from January 1, 2023.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2022-12-19, City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2022-12-19, City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
Show all 11 sources
Source record · Jan 8, 2024
Third increase: usage rates only
After a first reading at the Committee of the Whole on December 18, 2023, where the minutes record that the change would not take effect until March, the Council approved the third rate ordinance as part of its consent agenda on January 8, 2024, which carried by roll call 7–0. The memo's table lists only the usage rates: water from $8.92 to $9.81 and sewer from $1.74 to $1.91 per thousand gallons.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2024-01-08, City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2024-01-08, City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2023-12-18, Committee of the Whole, Dec 18 2023. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2023-12-18, Committee of the Whole, Dec 18 2023. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2024-01-08, City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
Source record · Jan 6, 2025
Fourth increase: rates and fixed charges
On January 6, 2025, the Council approved the fourth rate ordinance as part of its consent agenda, which carried by roll call 5–0. The memo listed the water rate rising from $9.81 to $10.14 and the sewer rate from $1.91 to $2.04 per thousand gallons and the sewer fixed charge from $4.08 to $4.36, and the draft ordinance's table raised the smallest meters' fixed water charge from $10.16 to $10.50. At the Committee of the Whole on December 16, 2024, which approved the ordinance by voice vote, staff described the sewer increase as about 7% and said water rates would rise by the same percentage as the City of Chicago's.
p. 5 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2024-12-16, Committee of the Whole, Dec 16 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2025-01-06, City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 5 · Approved minutes of Committee of the Whole minutes, 2024-12-16, Committee of the Whole, Dec 16 2024. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2025-01-06, City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
Show all 10 sources
Source record · Dec 15, 2025
The budget plans behind the latest increase
The budget workshop minutes of November 10, 2025 record proposed increases of 4.5% for water rates and 7% for water fixed charges, and a staff recommendation of 24% for sewer charges and 7% for sewer fixed charges. The proposed budget presented at the Council's budget hearing on December 15, 2025 includes a 45% increase to fixed charges billed at a flat fee to water accounts and a 4.5% increase to water user fees, which it says are needed largely because of a federal mandate to begin replacing water service lines in 2027. For sewer, it sets out increases of 27% in sewer charges and 7% in fixed charges. The Council approved the budget ordinance, as amended, that night by roll call 7–0.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 31 · Staff memo of Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 31 · Staff memo of Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2025-12-15, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 31 · Staff memo of Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2025-12-15, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
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Source record · Mar 2, 2026
The latest increase
After a committee first reading on February 17, 2026, the Council approved the latest rate ordinance's final reading on its consent agenda on March 2, 2026 by roll call 5–0. The memo listed the water rate rising from $10.14 to $10.55 and the sewer rate from $2.04 to $2.24 per thousand gallons and the sewer fixed charge from $4.36 to $4.93. The draft ordinance's table raised the smallest meters' fixed water charge from $10.50 to $15.23, the next size's from $25.46 to $26.35 and the largest's from $1,018.80 to $1,054.46. The memo called its increases significantly lower than the workshop's, citing the lead service line program, required from 2027 at a projected $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 a year, and possible sewer project delays.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
Show all 13 sources
Calculation · Mar 2, 2026
How the latest charges compare with the plans
The smallest meters' fixed water charge rose to 145% of its prior amount, matching the budget's 45% increase to fixed charges billed at a flat fee to water accounts, while the next size's rose to 103.5%; the budget does not say how its increase applies by meter size, and the workshop minutes had recorded 7% for water fixed charges. The water rate rose to 104% and the sewer rate to 109.8% of their prior levels, below both the workshop and the budget figures. The sewer fixed charge rose to 113.1% of its prior amount, more than the 7% increase to sewer fixed charges in both the budget and the workshop minutes; these records do not explain the difference.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 31 · Staff memo of Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
Show all 11 sources
Calculation
Change across the series
From the rates before the first increase to those in the latest ordinance, as printed, the water rate per thousand gallons rose to 132.4% of its starting level and the sewer rate to 157.7%. The smallest meters' fixed water charge went from $9.63 to $15.23, most of that rise coming in the latest step, and the sewer fixed charge from $3.35 to $4.93. Each change's starting rates and charges match the figures proposed in the change before it.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
Show all 18 sources
Source record · Nov 7, 2018
Fees other than the rates
The first ordinance also added a $50 service fee, deducted when a construction water meter deposit is returned; the code text it replaced returned the deposit less only the water used. Its late-payment fee of 10%, new account fee of $10, shut-off posting fee of $20 and reinstatement fee of $50 read the same in the latest ordinance's text: 10%, $10, $20 and $50.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 5 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 1 · Draft minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 5 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
Show all 11 sources
What was requested, recommended, approved, contracted, reported paid and completed?
Furthest stage the records establish: Approved.
- Rate ordinances adopted
- 5
- Council votes adopting ordinances that changed water and sewer rates, from November 7, 2018 to March 2, 2026.
- Calculation
- Latest step in the smallest-meter water fixed charge
- 145%
- The smallest meters' fixed water charge in the latest draft ordinance's table divided by the charge before it.
- Calculation
- Latest step in the next larger meter's water fixed charge
- 103.5%
- The next larger meter size's fixed water charge in the latest draft ordinance's table divided by the charge before it.
- Calculation
- Latest step in the sewer fixed charge
- 113.1%
- The sewer fixed charge proposed in the latest memo, $4.93, divided by the charge before it, $4.36.
- Calculation
- Latest step in the water rate per thousand gallons
- 104%
- The water rate proposed in the latest memo, $10.55, divided by the rate before it, $10.14.
- Calculation
- Latest step in the sewer rate per thousand gallons
- 109.8%
- The sewer rate proposed in the latest memo, $2.24, divided by the rate before it, $2.04.
- Calculation
Which parcels, agencies, businesses and projects are explicitly connected?
Read the original sources
- 1.Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Memorandum)
City of Park Ridge
- 2.City Council minutes, 2026-03-02
City of Park Ridge · dated 2026-03-19
- 3.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-01
City of Park Ridge · dated 2018-10-16
- 4.Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum)
City of Park Ridge
- 5.Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum)
City of Park Ridge
- 6.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2026-02-17
City of Park Ridge · dated 2026-03-03
- 7.City Council minutes, 2025-01-06
City of Park Ridge · dated 2025-01-29
- 8.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2023-12-18
City of Park Ridge · dated 2024-01-10
- 9.Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025
City of Park Ridge
- 10.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2018-10-22
City of Park Ridge · dated 2018-11-08
- 11.Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates
City of Park Ridge
- 12.City Council minutes, 2018-11-19
City of Park Ridge · dated 2018-12-04
- 13.Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018
City of Park Ridge
- 14.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2024-12-16
City of Park Ridge · dated 2025-01-08
- 15.Committee of the Whole minutes, 2022-12-05
City of Park Ridge · dated 2023-01-27
- 16.City Council minutes, 2022-12-19
City of Park Ridge · dated 2023-01-10
- 17.City Council minutes, 2024-01-08
City of Park Ridge · dated 2024-01-23
- 18.City Council minutes, 2025-12-15
City of Park Ridge · dated 2026-01-06
- 19.Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum)
City of Park Ridge
- 20.Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates (Memorandum)
City of Park Ridge
- 21.Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
City of Park Ridge
What remains unresolved?
What the evidence does not establish
- The ordinance numbers of the rate ordinances after the first; the Code history in the later drafts adds only one number without a date and one dated to a November Council meeting that had no rate item in these records.
- The exact effective dates of the later changes, which the extractable draft ordinance text does not state cleanly; the annual financial report says only that rate adjustments took effect during the fourth change's year.
- Why the latest sewer fixed charge rose by more in proportion than the increase to sewer fixed charges in the workshop minutes and the budget.
- What any household paid, which depends on water use, meter size and billing period.
- How much of each water increase passed through the City of Chicago's wholesale price, which the memos cite but do not quantify.
- Whether the signed third ordinance printed its memo's water rate; the fourth draft's marked-up text, where struck and new figures run together, appears to strike a different prior figure.
- How the budget's increase to flat-fee water fixed charges was meant to apply by meter size, and why the workshop minutes record a different figure for water fixed charges.
Signed rate ordinances and the codified rates section
They would confirm the adopted amounts, ordinance numbers and effective dates, which the meeting packets show only as drafts.
The City's published water and sewer rate schedule
It would show the rates actually billed, including the latest fixed charges for small meters.
The multi-year water and sewer rate study
It would show the schedule the first increase drew on and how later rates compare with it.
City of Chicago wholesale water rate notices
They would separate wholesale price changes from local charges in each water increase.
Water and sewer budget rate calculations and audited fund statements
They would show how the planned fixed-charge increases were spread across meter sizes and sewer accounts, and the revenue effect of each rate change.
Council direction on funding lead service line replacement
The latest memo says its rates reflect considerations about the program's structure and may be revised on Council direction.
What does the evidence suggest, and what would change it?
The Council adopted 5 ordinances raising water and sewer charges, each on a consent agenda without dissent. Per the staff memos, the water rate went from $7.97 to $10.55 and the sewer rate from $1.42 to $2.24; fixed charges rose too, most for the smallest meters in the latest, in line with the proposed budget. Other listed fees held steady except a construction meter fee added in the first.
Searched City Council and Committee of the Whole records from Oct 1 2018 to Aug 3 2026 (approved minutes, draft minutes, ordinances, staff reports).
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
- Dates and votes come from Council minutes and rates from staff memos and draft ordinances whose starting figures match the prior change's proposed ones, but the signed ordinances are not in these records, and the records do not explain the latest sewer fixed-charge step.
What supports it
- The Council minutes record that the consent agenda including the first rate ordinance carried 7–0.
p. 3 · Draft minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council - November 7, 2018, City Council, Nov 19 2018. Open the quote and source.
- The consent agenda including the second rate ordinance carried 7–0.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2022-12-19, City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
- The consent agenda including the third rate ordinance carried 7–0.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2024-01-08, City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
- The consent agenda including the fourth rate ordinance carried 5–0.
p. 3 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2025-01-06, City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
- The consent agenda including the latest rate ordinance carried 5–0.
p. 2 · Approved minutes of City Council minutes, 2026-03-02, City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
- The second memo's current water rate, $8.11, equals the rate proposed in the first memo, consistent with the first increase taking effect as printed.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
- The third memo's current water rate, $8.92, equals the rate proposed in the second memo.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 8 2024. Open the quote and source.
- The fourth memo's current water rate, $9.81, equals the rate proposed in the third memo.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Jan 6 2025. Open the quote and source.
- The latest memo's current water rate, $10.14, equals the rate proposed in the fourth memo.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
- The second memo says water and sewer charges stayed flat since January 2019, consistent with no rate ordinance between the first and the second.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
- The Municipal Code's history lists the first ordinance as Ordinance No. 2018-40, dated November 7, 2018, the day of the Council vote.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an Ordinance Modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Dec 19 2022. Open the quote and source.
- The draft of the first ordinance in the packet sets the new rates from January 1, 2019, and the approved committee minutes give the same date.
p. 3 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
- The first ordinance's text deducts a $50 service fee from a returned construction meter deposit, which the code text it replaced did not do.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve an ordinance modifying Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for utility billing rates, City Council, Nov 7 2018. Open the quote and source.
- The latest ordinance's text keeps the reinstatement fee at $50 and the other listed fees at the amounts in the first ordinance's text.
p. 4 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
- The City's annual financial report for the year of the fourth change says water and sewer rate adjustments became effective during 2025.
- The proposed budget includes a 45% increase to fixed charges billed at a flat fee to water accounts, the proportion by which the latest ordinance raised the smallest-meter charge.
p. 31 · Staff memo of Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, City Council, Dec 15 2025. Open the quote and source.
What points the other way
- The memo for the first ordinance says the committee approved it 7–0 on October 1, 2018, but the approved minutes of that day record a discussion item ending in a consensus to bring back the existing structure; the committee's recorded roll-call approval came on October 22, 2018.
- The workshop minutes record a 7% increase to water fixed charges, but the proposed budget sets out 45% for fixed charges billed at a flat fee to water accounts, the figure the latest smallest-meter step follows; the records do not show why the two differ.
p. 2 · Staff memo of Budget Workshop - November 10, 2025, City Council, Nov 17 2025. Open the quote and source.
- The latest memo says its recommended increases are significantly lower than those discussed at the budget workshop; that holds for the usage rates, but the sewer fixed charge and the smallest-meter water fixed charge rose by more than the workshop's fixed-charge figures.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
- The latest sewer fixed charge rises from $4.36 to $4.93, more in proportion than the 7% increase to sewer fixed charges in the budget and in the workshop minutes.
p. 1 · Staff memo of Approve the Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Article 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Park Ridge Municipal Code for Utility Billing Rates (Memorandum), City Council, Mar 2 2026. Open the quote and source.
Assumptions
- The rates the Council adopted are those in each staff memo's table and draft ordinance; the minutes record approval without amendment, but the signed ordinances are not in these records.
- A consent agenda roll call applies to every item listed on that consent agenda, including each rate ordinance.
- The smallest meter size is used to follow the fixed water charge; larger meters changed by different proportions.
- The workshop and budget percentages refer to the same charges the memos list; neither says how a fixed-charge increase would be spread across meter sizes.
- The budget's increase to fixed charges billed at a flat fee to water accounts refers to the charges for the smallest meter sizes; the budget does not name meter sizes.
Other explanations
- The earliest Council minutes in these records are the draft posted for approval, so the recorded vote could have been corrected; the Council later approved those minutes without a recorded amendment, and the Code history dates the ordinance to the same day. (ruled out by the records)
- The workshop minutes' figure for water fixed charges may reflect a plan that changed before the budget hearing; the records do not show when the budget's figure was set. (still open)
- The smaller steps for larger meter sizes could reflect a reallocation of fixed charges between small and large meters, an option the committee weighed and set aside before the first increase; the budget does not say how its flat-fee increase applies by meter size. (still open)
- The later changes may have taken effect on dates other than their adoption dates; the committee minutes for the third say it would not take effect until March, and the extractable text of the later draft ordinances runs struck and new dates together. (still open)
What would change this
- Signed ordinances or the City's published rate schedule show rates different from the memo and draft ordinance tables.
- A rate ordinance adopted at a meeting outside these records, or an amendment to one of these, comes to light.
- The budget's rate calculations or another record show the flat-fee increase was meant for other meter sizes, or that the latest fixed charges were billed at other amounts.
- A record explains how the latest sewer fixed charge was set.