KENNER, La. — Kenner city residents will see their sewage rates go up 75 percent over a five-year period in an effort to repair and maintain the sewerage system that is in bad need of upgrades, according to Mayor Michael Glaser.
The increase was approved by the city council and the initial hike will take be seen on the bills coming after July 1. The next hike will be on January 1, 2025. The hikes will continue until 2029.
“This has been kicked down the road a long time,” Council member George Branigan told NOLA.com.
Branigan said he often receives calls from residents who complain about toilets that won’t flush or sewerage coming up on the roads.
Glaser's office said the city can't afford to foot the bill without help from residents.
"Without making that decision, the city of Kenner not only faces significant financial issues, but, at the same time, residents need working sewer systems for their homes... the ability to have sewage, toxic sewage at that, not back up," said Valerie Brolin.
Kenner’s chief financial officer, Elizabeth Herring, said that the city currently is dipping into the general fund to pay those fees, but that the increases will hopefully cover the costs.
The city also gets funding from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for improvements, but it needs to fund some of the work itself.
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