Water rates in Locust Grove not changing soon

The Locust Grove City Council voted at its Dec. 16 workshop meeting to hold water and sewer rates steady for the first half of 2020.

The move was made possible, according to city staff, “due to efficiencies in the system that do not require the automatic increase on Jan. 1, 2020, and, under further review as the 2020 fiscal year develops, may allow for future adjustments as well that may partially offset parts of future rate increases.” A fee schedule adopted in 2015 calls for automatic two-percent increases Jan. 1 and July 1 of each year.

City staff also indicated that a considerable amount of debt has been paid down from prior years of investment in the system, including a large number of tap fees from new development.