North Salt Lake's 2026 water rates: base charges up 6%, usage tiers up about 8%
On June 16, 2026, the North Salt Lake council approved higher water and storm water rates, effective July 1, 2026. The staff memo described a 6% increase in both base charges and tiered water usage rates. The base charges in the packet's fee schedule do rise 6%. The listed usage rates rise between about 7.7% and 8.3%.
Continuing story: Auditing North Salt Lake
The North Salt Lake City Council approved new water and storm water rates on June 16, 2026. In its presentation, city staff described the water change as a 6% increase. The rate tables in the meeting packet show base charges up 6% and usage rates up about 8%. [1][2]
Finance Director Heidi Voordeckers said it was year five of implementing the Bowen Collins rate study. She said the proposal was a 6% increase on water, a 10% increase in storm water and no change in fees for garbage, according to the minutes. [1]
What the packet lists
The staff memo in the packet lists a "6% increase to monthly base rates" and a "6% increase to tiered water usage rates." [2]
The fee schedule in the same packet lists a base charge of $25.66 and $27.20 for 3/4-inch residential meters, a 6.0% increase. For 1-inch residential meters, it lists $38.49 and $40.80, also 6.0%. [2]
The usage rates listed for each tier rise by more than that. For 3/4-inch residential customers below 350 East, the first tier, covering 0 to 8,000 gallons, goes from $1.65 to $1.78, about 7.9%. The highest tier goes from $5.29 to $5.71, also about 7.9%. Across the residential tiers listed for both rate areas, the increases range from about 7.7% to 8.3%. [2]
The rate study in the packet, prepared by Bowen Collins & Associates in March 2022, lists $1.65 for 2025 and $1.78 for 2026 in the first culinary usage tier. Its summary table lists a 6.0% water revenue increase for 2026. [2]
Storm water rates rise from $10 to $11 per equivalent unit per month, which the memo describes as 10%. The memo proposes no sanitation rate change. It also seeks authority to pass on a collection fee of up to 18% on delinquent balances sent to a collection agency. [2]
The vote
Councilmembers Suzette Jackson and Heidi Smoot objected during the discussion to the rate structure, which charges different water rates in different parts of the city. City Manager Ken Leetham said the rate study included the actual cost of delivering water to different parts of the city. [1]
Councilmember Ted Knowlton first moved to approve the resolution effective July 1, 2027. Voordeckers clarified that the correct date was July 1, 2026. Knowlton amended his motion, and Councilmember Tammy Clayton seconded it. [1]
Clayton, Jackson, Knowlton and Smoot voted to approve it. Councilmember Alisa Van Langeveld was excused. The packet's resolution text also lists a July 1, 2026 effective date. [1][2]
The rate figures come from the fee schedule and rate study in the June 16, 2026 council packet. The Ledger has not seen the executed fee schedule. A household's bill depends on meter size, water use and storm water units, so the percentages above are not a bill increase for every household.
Sources
- North Salt Lake City Council · June 16, 2026 minutes
- North Salt Lake City Council · June 16, 2026 agenda packet, Resolution 2026-24R memo, fee schedule and rate study
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.