Shorewood Raises Rates For Water And Sewer To Keep Up With J-Town

The board voted unanimously to raise water and sewer rates.

The rate hike will mirror a 5 percent increase already instituted by the City of Joliet. Joliet provides Shorewood's water and sewer service.

"This is keeping up with that," said Sue Berg, the finance director for Shorewood, who pointed out that the increase would be less than $25 a year on a "normal water bill."

"On a normal water bill, it would be in the neighborhood of $2 a month" more than residents are already paying, Berg said.

The village finance committee recommended the rate hike. The committee also is "considering recommending a water/sewer rate study and this will be budgeted in the next fiscal year," Berg said in a memo to the mayor and trustees.

Trustees Dan Anderson and Dan Gron pointed out that Joliet has raised its water rates before over the last three years while Shorewood has held the line. Gron attributed this to the "increased efficiency" of Shorewood, which Joliet apparently lacks.