CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities Department wants to raise water rates to pay for system repairs.
The director of Charlotte Water said the repairs are needed to keep the state's largest water and sewer utility running.
- CMUD expects Charlotte water rates to increase every year
- CMUD wants to raise water rates to keep up with growth
- CMUD says revenue steadily dropping
Director Barry Gullet said because the utility operates on revenue money and not tax dollars, rates are set to go up 4 to 6 percent per year.
For the average customer, that means paying $4 more this summer after paying $3 more last year.
It's an estimated increase of 5.5 percent that Gullet said will help pay for aging pipes and other system parts that need to be replaced.
The water rate discussion will just be an informational meeting Monday night, allowing the director to tell city leaders how rates should be set for next year's budget.
The council is not expected to vote on an increase Monday.
Charlotte Water will also lay out a plan that would change when a customer's bill is due.
It wants to realign billing cycles across the city.
Charlotte Water said customers will get a bill soon after the meter reading, which could help for disputing any problems. It would also help identify leaks sooner.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Officials: 'Device' found on White House grounds
- Birth control, brain tumors may be linked
- City Council to decide on $7M cost for CMPD body cameras
- Man killed after I-85 black ice accident leaves behind pregnant wife
- Tuition hike proposed for UNC Charlotte students
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
