The City of Newton’s Utilities Department will present the city council with a proposal tonight to raise water rates. City Administrator Matt Muckler says the proposed changes would bring in an additional $1.9 million per year. He notes water rates have not increased in over six years. Since then, Muckler says operational costs have risen dramatically along with inflation, and revenues have not changed. He adds the city has started making needed and costly, infrastructure improvements to the water system.

The Newton City Administrator and Utilities Department are proposing that starting July 1st, there would be a $3.44 per month increase in the minimum usage rate for residential customers, while residential and commercial users exceeding the monthly minimum would pay 86-cents more per 100 cubic feet of water.

In Fiscal Year 2027, those rates would increase by another $1.49 per month and 37-cents per 100 cubic feet.  

Tonight’s Newton City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.