Official 'Shocked' With La Grange Water Rate Hike

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange trustees on Monday voted to raise water and sewer rates by 5 percent, but one said he was "shocked" it wasn't even higher.

The increase takes effect in two days; the decision was 27 days after the village election, in which voters re-elected three incumbents.

In raising rates, La Grange is following a consultant's recommendations from 2022, according to a memo

Two years ago, the village raised rates by 10 percent. But it failed to hike them by the recommended 5 percent last year because of a personnel transition, the memo said.

The increases are outside the ones triggered by hikes from neighboring McCook, where La Grange gets its water.

At Monday's meeting, Trustee Glenn Thompson said the village needed more money than what the 5 percent hike would bring.

"I'm a little bit shocked we're not going for the full 10 percent, based on the fact that we face major needs for flood relief money. We have the lead line service replacements," he said. "In the next couple of years, we will be forced to go to a bond issue."

He noted that local voters approved major property tax increases for the local park district and La Grange School District 102.

"My fear is that bond issues become harder to pass as time goes on," Thompson said. "Sewer fees and water fees are one thing we can control as a board that we don't have to go to a vote of the citizens."

During public comments, resident Alan Foreman urged the board to delay a water rate hike, saying the board had "overstated" previous ones.

"Pause, think about this, do more math," Foreman advised. "I think we are running too quickly to raise the rates."

Village President Mark Kuchler said if the hikes resulted in a flush bank account, the village would hold off on later increases.

The money would be kept to spend on projects such as water mains, he said.

The board's vote for the increase was unanimous.