CANTON – A city councilman is pushing to expand utility discounts for seniors, arguing recent increases are hitting residents on fixed incomes the hardest.
“Their Social Security and pensions are not increasing at the rate of inflation and the cost of goods,” Ward 9 Councilman Frank Morris said. “These people are really hurting.”
At the May 4 City Council meeting, Morris said he planned to raise the issue with the city service director and that rising costs are outpacing existing discounts.
“The discount is kind of minimal at this stage,” Morris said.
Canton offers homestead discounts at a flat rate $1.70 monthly for water, 10% monthly for sewer and 50% monthly for sanitation.
According to the homestead application, qualified individuals must be at least 65 years old or be “permanently and totally disabled,” have a total income less than $31,500 per year, and own and occupy a home inside the city as their primary residence.
Service Director John Highman said the city plans to pursue a comprehensive study of Canton’s utility rate structure.
Earlier this year, the city accepted bids from outside firms to conduct the study, which would be the city’s first in eight years.
“There’s just a ton of different questions we need to consider as it pertains to rates,” Highman said.
Highman said changes to sanitation and sewer discounts would require council to amend city ordinance. Under state law, the service director sets water rates. Highman added that expanding discounts for some customers could shift costs onto others.
Morris said he is exploring how council could increase the discounts.
“If it’s determined that it falls into council’s lap, then you can look forward to seeing legislation to increase the discount,” he said.
Recent utility rate increases
In 2026, Canton sewer and water rates increased by 15%, while sanitation rose by about 3%.
Highman said the rate changes are needed to fund infrastructure improvements and cover rising operational costs.
Here are the average monthly rates for utility customers in 2026:
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘These people are really hurting.’ Canton councilman wants larger senior utility discounts
Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository
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