Water rates may rise in Roselle

Roselle residents are likely to see an increase in their water bills later this spring. Village officials this week preliminarily approved a rate increase of 15 cents per 1,000 gallons, from $4.05 to $4.20.

The change is based on an increase in water rates expected to be approved Thursday by the DuPage Water Commission, Village Administrator Jeff O'Dell said.

"We are (the commission's) customers and what they are increasing we are merely purchasing and passing on to our residents," he said.

The village board already passed a 20-cent water rate increase during its budgeting process in January - before officials knew the water commission was planning an even larger boost to offset its own financial problems.

The commission's decision comes in the wake of a series of financial blunders by commission officials and former employees that resulted in the depletion of $69 million in reserve funds.

Roselle's increase will not be official until the village board approves it at its April 26 meeting. If that happens, the change will go into effect starting May 1.