Politics
Mill Park Mayor's Fiscal Adjustment Ordinance Delays Utility Fee Changes Until October 2026
Mill Park residents will continue paying current utility rates through September under the ordinance approved by the city council on July 2.
How we reported this
The Mill Park mayor's office on July 7 outlined the rollout schedule for the Fiscal Adjustment Ordinance, which revises how the city calculates water and sewer fees for all residential accounts. The ordinance applies to the 18,400 households served by the municipal utility district and takes effect in stages beginning October 1, 2026.
City budget documents show the changes respond to a projected $2.8 million shortfall in the utility enterprise fund for the coming fiscal year. The council approved the measure without altering base rates until the new billing cycle starts in the fourth quarter.
Implementation Schedule for Residents
Under the ordinance, existing rates remain in place for bills issued through September 30. Starting October 1, the city will apply a new calculation based on average winter water use rather than the prior three-year rolling average. The first adjusted bills arrive in mailboxes by November 15.
Residents who receive both water and sewer service on a single bill will see the combined line item change at the same time. The city clerk's office has scheduled two public information sessions at Mill Park City Hall on August 12 and September 9 to explain the new formula.
Next Steps and Local Effects
The government projects that 62 percent of single-family homes will experience an increase of less than $8 per month once the new method begins. The remaining accounts will see either no change or a reduction because their winter usage falls below the previous average.
City staff will mail individual notices to every utility account holder by September 1. Those who wish to contest their calculated winter average may submit meter readings by October 15 for review before the first adjusted bill is finalized.