The Gurnee Village Board has approved a 7.5 percent water rate increase as well as a 50 percent drop in the minimum amount billed in a move that will benefit residents who use little water.
Village officials also announced at Monday’s board meeting that charges for refuse and recycling pickup are increasing about 3 percent. According to the contract with the village’s waste hauler, Waste Management North, the cost for a 95-gallon bin will go from $9.63 to $9.91 each month, a 65-gallon bin will go from $7.91 to $8.14 each month, and recycling service will go from $2.45 to $2.48 each month.
The water rate will rise from $2.70 per thousand gallons to $2.90 per thousand gallons. It will be effective for bills dated Sept. 1.
The minimum water bill for homes and town homes with individual meters will be 5,000 gallons per quarter. The drop in the minimum will benefit low water users who are now paying for 10,000 gallons per quarter regardless of how much below that amount they use, village officials said.
