Lincoln Park residents sound off as new water rate increase takes effect

Some Lincoln Park residents are adjusting their daily routines as a new water rate increase takes effect.

The rate hike, approved by the city council, raises water and sewer costs by between 15% and 28%. City officials say the increase is needed to address rising costs and help maintain the city's water system.

For residents like Amy Perry, the increase is already having an impact.

"A lot of people is hurting," Perry said.

Some residents say they're worried about what their next bill will look like. Kevin O'Hagen, who has lived in Lincoln Park for 20 years, says he's concerned about the added expense.

"I don't know how we're gonna take the deal with that because they're incompetency. Now we got to pay for it. All at once," O'Hagen said.

Perry says she's trying to cut back on water usage as much as possible.

"I'm trying my two minutes, wash and go, and then, once I close, I go to wash center, towards my clothes. Let's see what's gonna happen. If they're really gonna go up and go down," Perry said.

During a recent city council meeting, Mayor Maureen Tobin said the increase is tied to rising costs and a longstanding issue with water loss. City officials estimate that more than 40% of the water entering Lincoln Park's system is not being billed to customers.

Perry also criticized city spending on beautification efforts. Last month, the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority approved $150,000 to fund six to eight murals. Perry believes those dollars should be directed toward infrastructure improvements instead.

"They trying to put murals, they called it murals for 150,000 in Lincoln Park. They trying to do it, Lincoln Park; there's no sense if there's a water leaking water problem, putting it first before do the murals," Perry said.

While city leaders maintain the rate increase is necessary to maintain the water system and address financial challenges, some residents say the higher costs are placing additional strain on families already struggling with rising expenses.