Rockport City Council on Sept. 3 approved the first of two readings for a package of ordinances changing water and wastewater rates, increasing utility fees and deposits, and raising a voluntary utility surcharge that funds volunteer fire departments.

The measures follow a consultant rate study the city commissioned. City staff presented a five-year schedule for wastewater and water charges that would be adopted now and remain in effect unless the council intervenes. Mr. Sorrell, a city staff presenter, summarized the approach: “we're trying to do the 5 year deal where we approve it once and then without council intervention, it would continue to increase at those amounts that Dan Wheldon had noted and that is noted in the presentation.”

Why it matters: the changes affect both inside- and outside-city customers and are intended to bring rates and fees closer to the cost of service after the city commissioned a formal study. Council members repeatedly cited the consultant study during debate and said they did not want to deviate from its recommendations.

Key elements approved (first of two readings):
- Wastewater (inside city): proposed increases of roughly 9%, 9%, 8%, 8% and 8% over five years for residential and nonresidential base rates and similar volumetric changes. Outside-city wastewater rates include a 0% first year then larger increases in subsequent years (presented as multi-year percentage steps).
- Water (inside city): proposed increases of about 4%, 3%, 3%, 2% and 2% (base and volumetric). Outside-city water customers would see smaller initial increases (0% in early years) with step increases later in the five-year schedule.
- Utility fees and deposits: staff proposed raising several fee levels that had not been updated in roughly a decade. Examples cited in the packet include residential deposits rising (from $150 to $170), reconnect fees from $37.50 to $85, NSF fees from $25 to $30, service charges from $25 to $60, and a proposed meter-tampering fee of $100 plus recovery of stolen service and repair costs. Staff said most fee lines still do not fully recover cost but that the increases move the city closer to cost recovery.
- Volunteer fire surcharge: the council approved amending the surcharge account to raise a voluntary $2 connection surcharge to $3 per connection, which staff estimated would generate roughly $137,000 to support volunteer fire department capital expenses.

Council and staff discussion: presenters repeatedly referenced the Willdan Consulting rate study as the basis for the numbers in the ordinances. One council member said the city “was asked to get a rate study … and I don't feel comfortable deviating from it at all.” Staff noted many fee lines were last updated about 10 years ago and that some fee increases are aimed at reducing operating subsidies.

Outcome: Each ordinance advanced on a unanimous vote (Ward 1–4 and mayor recorded as aye) at first reading; each will return for a required second reading before taking full effect.