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Water rates in Oak Forest are going up 4 percent, effective Jan. 1.
The 11-cent increase boosts the rate to $2.88 per 1,000 gallons. The last rate increase was in 1991.
Aldermen said this week they had no option but to raise rates because Oak Lawn, its Lake Michigan water supplier, has passed on rate increases four times in the last six years.
Oak Forest needs the increase to keep its water account solvent, officials said. In an effort to keep the rate low, the city already transferred one water department employee’s salary to the street fund, said City Treasurer JoAnn Kelly.
