Berryville council OKs rate increases

The Berryville City Council approved an emergency ordinance at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, that will increase water and sewer rates over the next five years.

The rate increases result from a state-mandated study of water and sewer rates, which Mayor Tim McKinney previously explained stemmed from many smaller water systems not setting their rates high enough to pay for major repairs.

The ordinance approved by the city council will increase water rates incrementally over five years. Customers inside the city limits will see their minimum charge — for the first 2,000 gallons used each month — rise from $15.48 per month in the first year to $18.81 per month in Year 5.

For customers outside the city limits, the minimum charge will increase from $27.45 in Year 1 to $33.36 per month in Year 5.

Sewer rates for all customers will see the minimum charge increase from $15.76 per month in Year 1 to $17.74 per month in Year 5.

McKinney told the council that the new water rates represent an increase of 5 percent per year over the current rate, while sewer rates will go up 15 percent from the current rate in the first year and then rise another 3 percent per year in Years 2-5.

“It works better incrementally,” said council member Jason Williams. “It doesn’t hurt so bad.”

“We’re still going to be maybe the lowest in the region, even after the rate increase,” McKinney said.

The council also approved a resolution establishing the city’s 2026 operating budget, which includes projected revenue of a little more than $20 million and appropriations of just less than $17 million.

Police chief Robert Bartos presented his department’s monthly activity report for November, telling council members that Berryville police issued 60 citations in November, down from 73 in November 2024. Offenses increased by one from the previous year, to 54, and the department had a clearance rate of 87 percent for the month.

The department collected $930 in fines and bond payments and responded to 25 traffic accidents up from 18 in November 2024.

The council also continued discussions about McKinney’s suggestion that the city begin requiring business licenses.

The meeting concluded with citizens’ comments, with three speakers expressing concerns about a proposed apartment complex in the area of Oakview Drive and Chrisna Maria Drive.

McKinney advised those residents to address the city’s planning commission, which meets at 5:15 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at City Hall.

Another speaker told the council he was concerned that requiring business licenses could have a negative impact on small businesses. He also suggested the city consider “sharing” a code enforcement officer with other cities in the county.

The Berryville City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at City Hall.