The Forest Park Village Council voted unanimously on May 22 to raise water rates by 5% while keeping the sewer rates the same.
The increase came in response to Chicago raising its rates. Under an agreement in effect since 2016, the rate the village pays Chicago is adjusted, based on the annual changes in the Consumer Price Index, but the increase can’t be higher than 5%. This year, CPI increased by 5.16%.
Starting June 1, the Chicago rate will be $33.95 per 1,000 cubic feet, or about $4.55 per 1,000 gallons. Forest Park agreed to increase the rate for commercial and industrial customers from $14.41 per 100 cubic feet to $15.13 per 100 cubic feet. For multifamily housing, the rate will go up from $10.51 to $11.04. For single-family homes and institutions, the rate will rise from $8.36 to $8.78. The senior citizen rate will go up from $6.47 to $6.79.
Since 2018, the village has pinned the water rates charged to its customers to changes in Chicago water rates. Between 2015 and 2018, Forest Park kept the rates the same, absorbing the increases out of pocket, until it determined that such an approach was unsustainable amid growing budget deficits and rising costs.
The new ordinance doesn’t make any changes to late fees, and the sewer rates remain $1.45 per 100 cubic feet.
The village council approved the increase without discussion.
