The Shelton City Commission has approved a 9% increase in water rates each of the next three years beginning in May. Monday night's action also restructured the city's customer classes replacing the current two-block volume rate with a three-block rate,

which will lead to a rate increase to commercial customers by about 21% and irrigation customers by over 100%. These changes will help the City build reserves for future capital improvements on the system while encouraging conservation.  The City Commission also approved a increase in the utility tax on water from 5% to 11.63%. This change is to comply with a recent court ruling that requires all municipalities to no longer include the cost of fire protection in their water rates and moves that funding from the water utility to the General Fund.

Shelton City Commissioners /courtesy of City of Shelton Images