The Sulphur City Council will make several fiscal decisions next month. Proposals about water, sewer and trash collection fees, and next year’s budget, were introduced at the City Council meeting on Monday.

Last year, the American Press reported that the council approved $5.75 in utility increases: a $1.50 water increase, $2.90 sewer increase, $1.45 capital recovery fee — a charge that goes directly to the Water and Wastewater Capital Fund.

This year’s total proposed increase is $3.75: a 7.5 percent water increase, a 4.4 percent garbage increase, a 6.9 percent capital recovery fee increase and a 1.68 percent sewer increase.

Sulphur Finance Director Jennifer Thorn said the water fee increase recommendation was from a water rate study, which found that rates need to be increased by 7.5 percent for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. And increased by 2.5 percent in the following three years.

A 2022 $5 million grant for water improvements from the state Office of Community Development Water Sector Program is contingent on the city’s implementation of the water study rates, as the city was required to conduct the study to qualify, she said.

The scope of work related to the grant includes the Sulphur North Water Treatment Plant Improvement – removal and replacement of manganese greensand pressure filters – and the Sulphur Verdine Water Treatment Plant Phase Three – iron reduction improvements – projects.

The city has received approximately $1.8 million in grant funding. She said if the water rates are not approved, the city will forgo the remaining money and be obligated to return the awarded dollars.

A handful of citizens questioned if the city would lose the grant and spoke out against the rate increases. Shelia Broussard said the city should not increase water rates for “water that people can’t drink.”

“I do find it abominable that this city is charging anybody a penny for water,” she said. “I know we talked about magnesium … but there are living microbes that eat through metal that have eaten through my faucets. … That’s why I don’t drink it I don’t care if it’s got a pretty color and it’s clear as can be.”

“To say that this rate study is fair when there are people literally four streets more in town that I am paying nothing for their, how can we say that’s fair,” Wendy Windgate added later, stating citizens shouldn’t have to pay more when they are dealing with “brown” water and overworked water filters.

During discussions of installing water meters, Council member Dru Ellender said meters are the “end goal.”

Mayor Mike Danahay said the proposed rates were decided “upon sound fiscal analysis and always keeping in mind that the financial impact they have on our citizens,” citing previous council decisions (some dating back nearly 50 years) to not raise rates that led to greater debt and higher, delayed increases.

“It’s a delicate balance, but to ignore the fiscal reality of expenses exceeding revenue that have occurred in the past is not a sound policy.”

The council will also vote on a $3.75 increase to the city’s home utility assistance to match the rate increases and on a salary increase that would be applied after the next mayoral election.

The proposals will be voted on Monday, May 12.