By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – People living in Normal probably won’t be digging deeper into their pockets to pay for their water bills this year.

The Town Council during an all-day budget work session indicated they want to keep water rates flat, delaying for a year plans for a 2% rate increase.

Revenue generated from rate hikes go directly into the town’s water fund to pay for water system maintenance and improvements.

‘I think it’s something we can adapt to,” said City Manager Pam Reece, referring to reduced water fund revenue.

“I tend to agree that we can probably do this one year,” said Mayor Chris Koos.

“I would also be in favor of taking a pass on the water increase this one year, and revisit that next year to give our residents some breathing room,” said council member Karyn Smith.

“I don’t like to get behind and I don’t like to kick the can down on critical infrastructure systems like water and sewer and the like, but if you’re telling us for the foreseeable future, you don’t see great risk to our system, taking a break for one year, I’m supportive,” said council member Kevin McCarthy.

Council members Scott Preston and Kathleen Lorenz also said they supported delaying the rate increase.

Lorenz said she’s been advocating such a move for the past six years, but she cautioned that water usage is down in Normal, perhaps due to more efficient water fixtures and because so many student have been gone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lorenz urged staffers to look for new commercial water customers, particularly near the Rivian’s electric vehicle plant on the west side.

“If we want to try to keep rates flat, we’ve got to grow the market, and if we don’t do that successfully, then ultimately everybody who’s been in the market is going to have to pay more,” Lorenz said.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].