City staff presented proposed amendments to water and sanitary sewer user fees and capacity charges at the Oct. 20 Dublin City Council meeting, recommending a modest 1% increase to water rates and a 5% increase to sewer rates for 2026.

Finance staff member Matt Rubino told council the recommendation stems from capital and operating needs identified in the CIP process. The proposed water rate would increase to $3.34 (a 1% increase for the coming year). The recommended sanitary sewer change is a 5% increase to $16.88; a flat rate for Delaware County customers would be $18.70, staff said.

Rubino emphasized that the Sanitary Sewer Fund faces larger capital pressures than the Water Fund, with the presentation noting roughly $14,000,000 in currently unfunded sanitary projects in the CIP. To address that, staff proposed conducting a comprehensive water and sewer rate study in 2026 to map rates for multiple years, analyze the mix of cash funding versus debt financing, and recommend enterprise fund policies for improving long‑term sustainability.

Councilmembers raised questions about potential 2027 rate impacts, affordability for customers in newly served or unserved areas and whether rates could be set on a biennial basis after the study. Rubino said he did not expect a double‑digit increase in 2027 and reiterated that the study could enable the city to move to two‑ or three‑year rate adoption cycles based on a longer rate trajectory.

Rubino also suggested next year’s Finance Committee work will include enterprise fund policy discussions and consideration of options to make hookups more affordable for residents in areas newly served by utilities.

Ending: Staff requested second reading and public hearing on Nov. 3; council will consider the ordinance at that time.