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Metropolis Passes Budget; Raises Water/Sewer Bills

By Chris Taylor

Metropolis, IL – Metropolis, Illinois residents will see their water bills go up this week. City Council members met last night, barely passing a budget with a $2 million deficit and raising water and sewer bill rates. Starting Thursday, water will go from $9 to $18 and sewer bills will go from $9 to $25. The rates are set to increase slightly every July 1st for the next four years. Metropolis' budget shortfall is a result of declines in local gaming taxes from Harrah's Casino, which formerly subsidized water and sewer rates to below-cost figures. The Paducah Sun reports the rate increases were also necessary to cover maintenance costs and to repay a state loan that financed a mandated water runoff and sewage infrastructure.