Hillsboro residents will see increased sewer rates on their utility bills.
On Sept. 14, the Hillsboro Board of Alderpersons unanimously approved an ordinance increasing current rates by 1.5 percent to go into effect Sept. 15.
The new monthly sewer service rate is $8.98 inside the city ($13.46 outside) per 1,000 gallons. The previous sewer service rate was $8.84 inside the city ($13.26 outside) per $1,000 gallons.
The city had previously approved the increase in July; however special counsel Bianca Eden said on Aug. 3 the city should have held a public hearing before the sewer increase was approved.
“It has been a while since we did it, so it just slipped through the cracks,” she said.
The public hearing drew no feedback from residents.
Water/sewer rates were last raised by 3 percent in July 2024.
Dave Sarver, Public Works operations manager, has said the rate increase would allow the city to “…keep pace with aging infrastructure, preventative maintenance and water systems innovation, while also accounting for increased material costs and other economic factors.”
At the July 6 meeting, the board also approved an $8 monthly increase on residential trash pickup, raising the charge to $26.50.