Corpus Christi water and wastewater bills would tick up again next year under proposals in review by the City Council.
For typical residential wastewater customers — those who have a 5,000-gallon winter quarter average water use and a 5/8-inch meter — the increase would be about $1.87, according to staff recommendations made to the City Council as part of a July 8 workshop.
That would bring average residents’ wastewater bills from $63.52 in 2026 to about $65.39 in 2027, a presentation showed.
For typical residential customers — those who use 6,000 gallons of water per month and have a 5/8-inch meter — bills would go up by about $2.48, from about $42.07 in 2026 to $44.55 in 2027, based on the proposal outlined in a PowerPoint.
Combined, it would be an extra $4.35 per month compared to 2026.
There’s not a flat rule for how rates impact individual residents, businesses and industrial customers. That’s because rates include several variables, such as meter size and tiered water consumption.
But by and large, many customers of all of the classes would likely see higher bills in 2027 under the proposal.
The recommended increases to the wastewater rates are attributable to debt payments and debt for projects that have already been approved, according to the presentation made before the council. For example, equipment and staff needed for the budding reclaimed water program totals about $1.1 million.
Similarly, factors contributing to the proposed water rate bumps include debt payments, debt for projects already approved, rising operating expenses and debt issued for new water supply projects, the PowerPoint showed.
The new water supply projects play the biggest role in the proposed increase, it states, at about 36%.
That would be about 89 cents of the additional $2.48 recommended, staff told the council.
New water supply projects already online or anticipated to be online in 2027 include the Nueces groundwater well fields and the reclaimed water program intended to provide nonpotable water for industrial use.
Both wastewater and water services are supported by revenue based on rates as opposed to property tax collection.
Another workshop to discuss water and wastewater is scheduled for July 16.
Although the staff makes recommendations and brings proposals, rate-setting is ultimately the responsibility of the council.
It’s planned that the council will take its first vote setting the 2027 rates on July 21, with a second and final vote July 28, staff said.
That’s a little more than a month earlier than when the council usually votes on rate-setting for the upcoming year.
Historically, a final decision is made in conjunction with votes on the overall city budgets.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi water, wastewater bills may increase
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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By Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
