Politics
Deer Park City Council Passes Ordinance 2026-14 on Municipal Fee Adjustments
The ordinance limits increases to water, sewer and waste collection charges paid by Deer Park households for the next 18 months.
How we reported this
On July 7 the Deer Park City Council approved Ordinance 2026-14 by a 6-1 vote, setting a 1.8 percent cap on annual adjustments to residential water, sewer and solid-waste fees through December 2027.
The measure follows the release of the city’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget, which showed that utility revenues must cover $14.2 million in infrastructure maintenance costs. Council documents state that the cap replaces an earlier formula tied to the consumer price index.
Direct changes to monthly bills
Under the ordinance, the average single-family home currently billed $118 per month for combined utility services will see no increase above the 1.8 percent limit in either 2026 or 2027. Multi-unit buildings receive the same percentage restriction on their master-meter accounts. The city clerk’s summary notes that the cap applies only to base rates and does not restrict pass-through charges for purchased water from the regional supplier.
Residents who receive the existing low-income utility discount will continue to pay 60 percent of the capped rate. The discount program served 1,240 households in fiscal year 2025 according to the community services division report.
Next steps for implementation
City staff will update the billing software by August 1 so that September statements reflect the new rate schedule. Property owners who pay through escrow accounts will receive a revised annual estimate from their mortgage servicer within 60 days. The ordinance requires the finance department to publish a mid-year review of actual collections by March 2027.
Local advocates note that the cap covers roughly 82 percent of Deer Park households that receive city utility service, while the remaining customers on private wells or septic systems are unaffected by the fee limits.