The Salem City Council in November will vote on whether to charge Salem homeowners about $5 more per month for water and sewage service. If councilors approve the 4.5% rate increase, it would take effect in January. Another 4.5% increase is proposed for January 2026. The funds would cover mostly rising day-to-day operating costs of Salem’s water, stormwater and sewage systems. The city mailed notice to ratepayers last week. How to weigh in on utility rate increases The Salem City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rate increases on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 555 Liberty St. S.E. To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the day of the hearing. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube in English and Spanish. For written comments, email [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Monday, or submit on paper to the city recorder’s office at the Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. S.E., Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record. The monthly cost of city utilities for a typical home would rise from about $118 to about $123, according to the city’s utility calculator. Those figures include additional fees the city charges on utility bills. The city operations fee, a monthly bill fee that funds general city operations, will rise in 2025 from $15.33 per month to $15.88 per month for residential customers. Commercial, industrial and multi-family customers would also see a rate increase of 4.5%. If approved, the increased utility rates will generate about $4.5 to $5 million more next year for the city’s utility fund, said city spokesman Trevor Smith.  The fund’s budget is $150 million this year, up from about $139 million last year, according to the city’s adopted budget.  Most of that money is spent on day-to-day operations, including repair and maintenance, while about $30 million is earmarked for capital improvement projects, Smith said. Increased utility costs this year include about $3 million more in wages and benefits, including the addition of three employees for a sanitary sewer dig crew to address a growing need for sewer repairs, according to the budget. Materials costs are also rising. Ratepayers can calculate how much they’ll pay on bills using the city’s utility calculator, emailing [email protected] or calling 503-588-6211.The city has utility bill assistance available, including monthly discounts based on income, as well as emergency assistance for past-due balances up to $500 per calendar year. Learn more about the programs and how to apply here or by calling 503-588-6099. Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Salem plans to raise utility costs by about $5 per month starting in January 2025 appeared first on Salem Reporter.