LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Sewer District (MSD) could soon be increasing monthly bills for residents in Jefferson and Oldham County this year.
According to officials, Louisville MSD's board approved a new budget plan for fiscal year 2025 on Tuesday.
It includes upgrades and repairs to Jefferson County's wastewater treatment, stormwater management and flood protection infrastructure and invests more than $298.8 million to support hundreds of projects.
The new budget also comes with a 6.9% rate increase for residents in Jefferson and Oldham County.
For customers in Jefferson County, the increase would tack on $5.19 to their average monthly residential bill. Meanwhile, in Oldham County, residents' monthly bill would increase by $3.74 on average.
Louisville MSD said the new rate could take effect on Aug. 1, 2024.
Tracey Mills live in Fairdale and has been smelling a strong sewage odor that he said comes and goes, but this year it is worse.
He's also been facing flooding issues for the last 12 years.
"I wouldn't mind paying a little extra if the problems got fixed you know if the drainage got to be a whole lot better," said Mills.
The board also agreed to continue MSD's wastewater rate assistance programs, which provide a 30% discount for qualified law-income residents in both counties.
"Frequent sewer cave-ins and failures are examples of the challenges we face across our service area with outdated infrastructure that is long past its usual life," MSD Executive Director Tony Parrott said.
Despite the rate increase for customers, Parrott said Louisville MSD continues to seek state and federal funding for projects. Officials said alternative funding, like grants and low-interest loans, currently provide more than $225 million for in-progress projects.
Nearly 5% of the $98.8 million FY2025 Capital Improvement Plan is funded by grants, Louisville MSD said.
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