Fort Dodge residents will see their water and sewer rates increase, beginning with the bills that will be received in February 2024.

The water rates will go up 8 percent on Jan. 1.

The sanitary sewer rates will go up 6 percent on Jan. 1.

Those rate increases were approved by the City Council in 2022, and are part of the proposed budget for 2024-2025. That new fiscal year begins July 1.

According to City Manager David Fierke, a fiscal analysis recommended additional rate increases for both the water and sanitary sewer systems on Jan. 1, 2025. Those increases would be 8 percent for water and 7 percent for sanitary sewer. However, he told the City Council Monday that he would not recommend any action on those proposed increases until after he has had time to review routine audits for the current fiscal year and the next one.

The City Council started its work on the proposed 2023-2024 budget Monday by reviewing the spending plans for the water and sanitary sewer systems, the road use tax and Fort Dodge Fiber.

Water system

Current budget: $12,756,220

Proposed budget: $12,410,360

What the budget pays for: Operation of wells, John W. Pray Water Facility, water mains, engineering work for water projects

Planned major purchases: Valves ($70,000)

“We are not immune to inflation,” Fierke told the council while discussing the water budget.

He said the city is experiencing an increase in the cost of chemicals needed to treat the water. For example, chlorine, which is used to kill any bacteria in the water, cost about $1 per gallon in 2021. Now it costs $3 per gallon.

Overall, the cost of the needed chemicals has gone up about $600,000, according to Fierke.

Sanitary sewer

system

Current budget: $12,371,584

Proposed budget: $14,288,234

What the budget pays for: Sewer lines, lift stations, the wastewater treatment plant, engineering work for sewer projects

Road use tax

Current budget: $3,614,693

Proposed budget: $3,731,346

What it is: The city’s share of gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees. The city gets $133 per capita.

What it pays for: Road maintenance, snow removal, street sweeping, traffic signals, forestry

Planned major purchases: Wheel loader ($248,000), wood chipper ($55,000)

Fort Dodge Fiber

Current budget: $3,373,293

Proposed budget: $4,129,497

Fort Dodge Fiber, the city’s broadband utility, received final approval from the council in July 2021 and hooked up its first customers this year. As of Dec. 6, it had 424 customers. The goal is to have 2,700 customers by July 1.