Round Lake Beach expected to charge more for water

Round Lake Beach residents could be paying more for water in July.

Officials are expected to approve a 20-cent increase in water rates during the next village board meeting scheduled on April 28.

Board officials said the need for the increase is to help offset the cost of running the village.

Round Lake Beach Treasurer Patrice Sutton-Burger said the village is asking for an increase from the current water rate of $2.82 per 1,000 gallons. The rate, if approved next week, would be $3.02 per 1,000 gallons.

The increase is expected to cost a family of four an additional $3.20 every two months.

However, because the village water rate is combined with the Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, residents will see their actual bills jump from $4.97 per 1,000 gallons to $5.17 per 1,000.

The rate increase will bring in $71,000 in 2009, but only because the village will collect only six months of increased fees. The village will pull in about $142,000 more in 2010, the first full year of the increase.

The board approved a $25,000 deficit budget last month and has been looking at cutting costs to make it through the year. Sutton-Burger said the increase will keep the village working in the black for at least the next two years.

"We analyze the rates every couple of years," she said. "The board feels this is an appropriate response."

Mayor Rich Hill said he's not happy about raising the rates, but the village needs to keep operating.

"It's not a huge amount but enough to help the village keep working," he said. "No one ever likes to see their rates increase, but with the way things are, it's a necessity."