Residents across Columbus, Ohio, and neighboring communities could soon see higher utility bills as city leaders evaluate an 18% increase in water rates. If approved by the Columbus City Council, the proposal would add roughly $123 to the average household’s annual bill.

Read in Somali ↓

The measure is part of a broader rate package that also includes a 4% increase for sanitary sewer charges and a 2% bump for stormwater costs. Financial forecasts from Columbus Water and Power indicate that water bills could rise by more than 10% annually through 2032. The adjustments would apply not only to Columbus residents, but also to suburban and outlying communities that rely on the municipal water network.

City officials stated that the revenue is necessary to fund major infrastructure projects needed to keep pace with rapid regional expansion. The largest undertaking is a $2.5 billion water treatment facility planned for Home Road in northwest Columbus, which will eventually process between 48 and 90 million gallons of water daily. In addition, the utility faces an estimated $1 billion mandate to identify and replace lead service pipes across the service territory.

The proposal has sparked debate among city leaders. Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche, who chairs the Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, expressed support for the rate adjustments during a recent public hearing. Wyche stated that Columbus must either invest in maintaining and modernizing its infrastructure to provide clean drinking water or find ways to halt the rapid growth taking place across the region. Jon Lee, deputy director of Columbus Water and Power, told council members that the investment is vital to sustain ongoing housing and commercial development while securing water reliability.

However, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin questioned whether staff could identify alternative funding streams instead of placing the burden directly on residents. Hardin highlighted that local families are already grappling with higher costs for housing, groceries, childcare, and gasoline. Hardin also raised the possibility of seeking affordability assistance through the incoming administration of Governor-elect Amy Acton. The measure moved to council after a split vote by the city’s Utility Advisory Board.

To help offset the financial impact on vulnerable households, Columbus Water and Power has recommended expanding the city’s Income Qualified Discount from 30% to 35% of usage. While the city is also pursuing policies to charge high-volume industrial users like data centers higher rates, staff noted those changes will take at least a year to produce results.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Golaha Columbus oo Ka Fikiraya Kordhinta Qiimaha Biyaha ee 18 Boqolkiiba

Dadka ku nool magaalada Columbus ee gobolka Ohio iyo deegaannada ku hareeraysan ayaa laga yaabaa inay wajahaan koror ku yimaada biilasha biyaha, iyadoo Golaha Magaalada Columbus (Columbus City Council) uu hadda ka doodayo soo jeedin qiimaha biyaha lagu kordhinayo 18%. Haddii tallaabadan ay ansixiyaan xildhibaannada magaaladu, qoyska caadiga ah waxaa biilkiisa ku kordhi doona qiyaastii $123 sannad kasta.

Qorshahan ayaa sidoo kale qayb ka ah kordhin ballaaran oo ay ku jiraan 4% oo lagu kordhinayo adeegga bulaacadaha iyo 2% oo ah maaraynta biyaha roobka. Kordhintan ayaa saameyn doonta dadka ku nool Columbus, magaalooyinka ku xeeran ee xaafadaha ah (suburbs), iyo bulshooyinka kale ee ku tiirsan nidaamka biyaha ee magaalada. Saadaasha ay soo saartay wakaaladda Columbus Water and Power ayaa muujinaysa in biilasha biyuhu ay sannad kasta kordhi karaan in ka badan 10% ilaa laga gaaro sannadka 2032.

Mas’uuliyiinta magaalada ayaa sheegay in dakhliga dheeraadka ah ee laga helo kordhintan loo adeegsan doono mashaariic waaweyn oo lagu daboolayo kororka degdegga ah ee dadweynaha. Mashruuca ugu ballaaran ayaa ah dhismaha warshad cusub oo lagu safeeyo biyaha oo ku kici doonta $2.5 bilyan, taas oo laga hirgelin doono aagga Home Road ee waqooyi-galbeed Columbus. Warshaddan ayaa la filayaa inay maalintii soo saarto inta u dhaxaysa 48 ilaa 90 milyan oo gallon oo biyo nadiif ah. Waxaa intaas dheer go’aan sharci ah oo magaalada ku waajibinaya inay hesho oo ay beddesho tuubooyinka duugoobay ee rasaasta ka samaysan (lead pipes), mashruucaas oo ku kici doona qiyaastii $1 bilyan.

Soo jeedintan ayaa dood xooggan ka dhex dhalisay madaxda magaalada. Xildhibaanka Golaha Magaalada Columbus ahna guddoomiyaha Guddiga Adeegyada Guud iyo Joogtaynta (Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee), Christopher Wyche, ayaa muujiyay taageerada uu u hayo tallaabadan intii lagu jiray dhagaysi dadweyne. Wyche ayaa sheegay in magaaladu ay tahay inay maalgashato kaabayaasheeda si ay u xaqiijiso helitaanka biyo nadiif ah ama ay xal u hesho sidii loo joojin lahaa kobaca xowliga leh ee magaalada ka socda. Sidoo kale, Jon Lee oo ah ku-xigeenka agaasimaha Columbus Water and Power, ayaa sheegay in maalgelintani ay lama huraan u tahay taageeridda horumarinta guryaha, kobaca ganacsiga, iyo kalsoonida mustaqbalka biyaha.

Hase yeeshee, Madaxweynaha Golaha Magaalada Columbus, Shannon Hardin, ayaan si toos ah u taageerin kordhinta, isaga oo saraakiisha magaalada weydiiyay in la helo ilo kale oo lagu maalgeliyo mashaariicdaas intii culayska la saari lahaa dadweynaha. Hardin ayaa tilmaamay in dadka deegaanku ay horey ula tacaalayeen qiimaha sii kordhaya ee kirada guryaha, cuntada, caymiska, xanaanada carruurta, iyo shidaalka. Waxa kale oo uu soo jeediyay in la fiiriyo haddii maamulka cusub ee Guddoomiyaha la doortay ee Amy Acton uu gacan ka geysan karo dhimista kharashaadkan. Qorshahan ayaa golaha u gudbay kadib markii xubnaha Guddiga La-talinta Adeegyada Guud (Utility Advisory Board) ay codkooda ku kala qaybsameen.

Si loo yareeyo culeyska dhaqaale ee soo gaari kara qoysaska dakhligoodu yar yahay, Columbus Water and Power waxay soo jeedisay in barnaamijka qiimo-dhimista dadka u qalma (Income Qualified Discount) laga kordhiyo 30% loona qaado 35% isticmaalkooda. Dhanka kale, maamulka magaalada ayaa ku hawlan sidii shirkadaha waaweyn ee warshadaha iyo xarumaha xogta internet-ka (data centers) ee biyaha aadka u isticmaala looga qaadi lahaa lacag dheeraad ah, inkastoo saraakiishu ay sheegeen in saameynta arrintaas aysan muuqan doonin muddo ugu yaraan hal sano ah.

Xigasho: WOSU