Topeka to share details about proposed utility rate increases

Topeka’s city government will share information about proposed increase in utility rates the city assesses during a public meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave.

The city’s utilities government asked the city’s mayor and council last month to raise utility rates each year from 2021 through 2025 to cope with what it describes as a “crisis” the city faces because of its aging utility infrastructure.

The mayor and council are being asked to later consider raising rates each year in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by 9% for water, 9% for stormwater runoff and 1% for wastewater, or sewer, services; and in both 2024 and 2025 by 8% for water, 8% for stormwater and 1% for wastewater.