The cost of water and sewage services in Forest Park will increase slightly June 1 to account for inflation, officials said.
“This is a normal process that we go through every year, and it reflects a standard rate of increase for water and sewer charges that we received from the City of Chicago,” said Michelle Melin-Rogovin, commissioner of streets and public improvements, at a May 28 village council meeting.
At the meeting, three commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins voted to increase the rates. Commissioner Maria Maxham was absent from the meeting.
Beginning June 1, residential and institutional customers will pay $9.08 for every 100 cubic feet of water, a 30-cent increase from last year. Senior citizens will have a 23-cent cost hike and pay $7.02. Multi-family customers will pay $11.41 (up from $11.04) and commercial or industrial customers will pay $15.64, instead of $15.13. Industrial or commercial, large meter customers will pay $156.40 for every 1,000 cubic feet of water, about a $5 increase from last year.
Sewer services will be $2 for most customers, up from $1.45. Industrial large meter customers will pay $20, an increase from $14.50.
Forest Park gets its water from Lake Michigan through the City of Chicago. The Chicago mayor and city council vote annually on increasing water rates to account for inflation, plus the increased cost of labor and the capital projects to maintain and improve water delivery to surrounding villages and towns.
As Chicago raises its price for Lake Michigan’s water, other municipalities follow suit to offset the increased cost. Forest Park increases charges for its sewer service because of rising costs to operate and maintain the sewer system.
According to the ordinance that increased water and sewer service prices, Forest Park periodically reviews these costs to adjust for Chicago and local price rises. The prices for water and sewer services are set for June 1 through May 31, 2025.