North Cook News

The Village of Hanover Park Board of Trustees met on Dec. 1 and discussed a proposed increase in the water rate, which has resulted in concern from residents.

“Now in order to do the work that is needed we will need to impose a rate increase at this time," Village Manager Juliana Maller said, noting there has not been an increase in eight years.

Members of the Village Board received a comment from a resident over the proposed increase in the water rate next year. The resident was concerned that there was no sunset clause—a specific end date for the increase. The village will be raising its water rates 5% each year for the next five years.

Maller responded to some of the concerns presented to the board. The village made the proposed change in light of expenditures, along with upcoming improvement projects, expected to deplete revenue. This rate is proposed for the next five years but not guaranteed to return after that point. At the end of that term, the rate will be reevaluated.

It is anticipated that growing costs will accrue as there is a large amount of infrastructure that needs work. The village also is also seeing a 5% increase from the City of Chicago for its water. The estimate for an average user in the village is an increase of $40-$60 on their water bill over the course of a year.