# Council adopts a 10% sewer rate increase and new stormwater fee, the first sewer hike since 2019

## What happened
The council adopted General Ordinance 8-2026, raising sewer rates 10% starting in 2030 and creating the city's first dedicated stormwater charge, to pay for the long-term control plan — a court-mandated schedule of sewer upgrades required to stop sewage from overflowing into the Wabash River during heavy rain. [15:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=957)

The plan targets roughly 1% average annual rate growth over a 10-year span and is the first sewer rate increase the council has approved since 2019 [17:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1025); city officials said an earlier estimate had put the increase as high as 15 to 17% before internal cost cuts brought it down to 10% [27:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1670).

The mayor first presented this rate plan and a $3-a-month stormwater fee in July; Thursday's vote formally adopts both. [$3/month stormwater fee, presented July 9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=6067)

## The outcome
Passed on a voice vote, first to take action and then to approve General Ordinance 8-2026. [29:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1748)

## Sources
- [Mayor's overview of the rate increase and stormwater fee, 15:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=957)
- [10% increase, 1% annual growth target, last increase in 2019, 17:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1025)
- [Mayor: earlier estimate was 15-17%, cut to 10%, 27:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1670)
- [Vote, 29:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTaXfMFUA30&t=1748)
- [July 9 presentation of the $3/month stormwater fee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=6067)

*Also known as: sewer rate increase Terre Haute · stormwater fee Terre Haute · General Ordinance 8-2026 · long-term control plan · why is my sewer bill going up · combined sewer overflow*