Water and sewer bills will soon increase in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland.
Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee and the city’s board of aldermen approved rate adjustments during Tuesday night’s meeting after viewing a presentation of a water and sewer rate evaluation conducted by a private engineering firm. The study assessed the long-term financial sustainability of the system and whether current rates were sufficient to cover ongoing operations, routine maintenance, infrastructure reinvestment, and reliable service.
After accounting for historical financial performance, consumption trends, industry-specific inflation, and projected operating and capital needs, it was determined that the city would benefit from a 2% rate increase, meaning the average bill would go up around $6.31. City officials cited the rising cost of labor, material, energy, and contracted services as a justification for charging more for the public utility.
“Water and sewer systems are foundational public services that must be planned and funded with a long-term perspective,” McGee said. “This study helps ensure that Ridgeland is taking a responsible and sustainable approach, so our infrastructure continues to serve residents reliably, not just today, but for decades to come.”
City officials further noted that the price increase is intended to support stable operations, maintain appropriate reserves, and allow for continued reinvestment in aging infrastructure. Even with the additional 2% tacked on to the bill, officials say Ridgeland’s water and sewer rates are among the lowest in central Mississippi.
Ridgeland Public Works Director Alan Hart contended that bills could have been higher if Amazon Web Services had not set up shop in the city. AWS is currently in the process of building two major data center campuses in Madison County, one of which is located on Highland Colony Boulevard in Ridgeland.
“Ridgeland operates its water and sewer system with a very lean team, and it is essential that we maintain the financial capacity to reinvest in the infrastructure our community depends on every day,” Hart said. “In addition, the recent data center development has helped offset system costs through projected revenues and privately funded infrastructure improvements, which reduced the level of increase that would have otherwise been necessary.”
