Orland Park Residents Will Pay More for Water in 2016

Orland Park residents will see a rise in their water rate next year, after trustees last week approved a ”placeholder” increase.

The rate represents a 2.7 percent increase—or approximately $2 more for the average homeowner—which will be tacked on to bills until a study of water and sewer rates is completed.

Trustees anticipate the study will be finished by February, at which point officials will take a closer look at recalibrating rates. Orland’s three-tiered billing system recognizes residents who use less water, and officials could decide to offer that program more widely, reports the Daily Southtown.

Water rates also rose last year, due in part to an increase issued by Chicago, the source of water for  Orland Park and several other suburbs get their water via Oak Lawn. Oak Lawn’s rate is expected to remain unchanged in 2016, but Chicago’s could be bumped up by 5 percent.

Trustees also approved the village’s property tax levy—or how much they expect , which holds steady at $13.4 million, and also the village’s 2016 budget. General spending is projected at $49.6 million, a decrease from $51.3 million this fiscal year. Allocations for all funds are estimated at $143.8 million.