Lawton Water Bills Could Rise to Nearly $100 Per Month

So Lawton is considering a rate hike that would make the minimum water bill just under $100 a month. That's the rug being pulled out from under Lawtonians at the moment, and a huge talking point in the public. This comes after a 15% increase in city fees across the board was approved last week for services like landfill costs, facility rentals, city youth and adult sports, etc. Now the rate hike is being considered for the utility bill that could give Lawton residents sticker shock.

Why Water Rates May Increase Again

It's always two steps forward and one step back, isn't it? It's back to business as usual in the Lawton City Hall. After years of ignoring vital problems with the city water and sewer systems, instead focusing funds on pet projects, Lawtonians are bracing for an inevitable huge spike on water bills... again.

While the council is still mulling over the idea of the rate hike, trying to hedge their bets on whether they'll survive reelection later or not, this is an issue that was brought up years ago and largely ignored by elected leaders. They simply didn't want to raise the water bill again, but failed to fund necessary maintenance and repair from somewhere else in the budget, according to my source inside City Hall.

Where City Funding Has Been Going

Now, credit is due to our city leaders for finally following through on their decades-old promises of new roads, with lots of work being done all across town. That being said, another big jump on the water bill will likely see a complete ousting of politicians from the mayor's office and the city council. Not that it would be a bad thing, it would give us a chance to elect financially responsible people in their place... if only we could get those sorts of people to run.

Like my political campaign manager friend always says, smart people don't run for public office. The popular kids who peaked in high school do. Her words, not mine.

This is generally when the questions about the new aquatic center in Elmer Thomas Park begin...

What The Proposed Rate Hike Would Cost Residents

Time will tell if our city council will pass this big rate hike, an average of $15 per customer, which would bring the minimum Lawton water bill to a hair over $99 per month as it stands now.

If you'd like to reach out to your councilor and voice an opinion, you'll find their contact information here... Though, I've emailed my Ward 8 city councilor, Randy Warren, a handful of times over his tenure, and I have the smallest amount of faith still that he'll get caught up enough to actually reply to this constituent one of these days...

Your mileage may vary.