Wilmington City Council approves controversial water rate hikes in 2025 budget

Hannah Edelman, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

The Wilmington City Council voted to approve a revised budget worth almost $194 million for fiscal year 2025 that includes controversial hikes in sewage and stormwater rates for residents.

Other changes to the budget include a $100,000 increase in funding for the HBCU Foundation, $100,000 for a pilot program to implement traffic calming devices and a $350,000 transfer from the city's tax stabilization reserve to be earmarked for minority-owned businesses.

Multiple members of the public raised concerns about the increased water costs at Thursday night's City Council meeting. The new rates will add about an additional $4 to the average resident's monthly bill — a reduction from the rates present in Mayor Mike Purzycki's initial budget proposal from March 21, which came out to nearly $6 a month.

Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair Chris Johnson acknowledged that the water and sewage costs and improvement projects are "a work in progress." As he noted in Monday night's Finance and Economic Development Committee, Johnson pointed anyone who may be struggling to pay their water bill to the city's Utility Assistance Program, which is open to both renters and homeowners.

The program will be receiving $350,000 next fiscal year following a $100,000 increase to the budget by the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

City Councilwoman Shane Darby speaks during the Evening with Al Sharpton event sponsored in honor of Black History Month by the Citizens for Judicial Fairness at the Police Athletic League of Wilmington Center in Wilmington, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.
City Councilwoman Shane Darby speaks during the Evening with Al Sharpton event sponsored in honor of Black History Month by the Citizens for Judicial Fairness at the Police Athletic League of Wilmington Center in Wilmington, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

Still, council member Shane Darby — who has herself relied on the assistance program in the past — said the Utility Assistance Program isn't always accessible or effective, and "any increase (in rates) with no real protection...is irresponsible."

She and Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo were the only two members to vote against the passage of the sewage and stormwater rate increase.

Darby and Congo also voted against the larger budget proposal, which passed with 10 votes. Council member Vincent White voted present to "avoid potential conflict."

BACKGROUND: What's new in the revised 2025 budget for Wilmington? See what's up for a vote Thursday

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington City Council approves revised 2025 budget, water rate hike