City News & Updates

Thanks for your patience – we know there are a lot of questions right now. We don’t have one person sitting by with all the answers ready to go, so it can take a little time to respond. We’re paying close attention and often share answers through new posts, the City’s weekly newsletter, or updates on our website. There’s a lot to cover with this week’s water rate news. If you’d like more info, we invite you to check out the following Q&A.

Q. Do utility bill payments go into the general fund, and can the city spend that money however it wants?

A. Actually, utility bill payments directly fund the utility department. Those funds are kept separate from the general fund, and they are meant specifically for maintaining and operating the water and sewer systems. In the interest of transparency and clarity in how funds operate, general fund revenues (like income and property taxes) are not spent on municipal utility operations, maintenance or improvements.

Q. I’m really struggling to keep up. Is anything being done to help residents manage these rising costs?

A. We understand how frustrating this is, and you're not alone — many families are feeling the strain. We’ve kept flexible utility bill repayment options in place to help those who are struggling, and we do our best to help prevent shutoffs whenever possible.

We’ve also taken steps to keep costs down:

• Partnered with expert engineers to tighten the project and reduce expenses.
• Secured a low 2.28% interest rate – saving about $550,000 in Phase 1 over the life of the bond.
• Secured grants and applied available cash on hand to reduce borrowing.

Rate increases are always hard, so we're doing what we can to make this easier for our community.

Q. Why has it taken so long to address this issue? Was there a plan in place to set aside funds for this?

A. Big projects take years of planning and research before reaching public hearings and meetings. The City began exploring water plant replacement options in 2018, which led us to where we are today. To reemphasize a point above, we have also secured grants and applied available cash on hand to minimize borrowing costs. We’re committed to responsibly addressing Huntington’s current and future needs.

Q. What can be done about issues with limestone and hard water?

A. The city is actively exploring options to add water softening as part of the treatment process, something we haven’t done since the 1990s. We’re currently reviewing modern technologies to see what’s feasible for our system today. If such modern technologies prove reliable and cost-effective, they’ll be part of this project.

Q. How does this project connect with the proposed Andrews water project?

A. It does not. If the proposal to tie Andrews’ water service into Huntington moves forward, it will be funded by county, state, and federal sources, local Andrews ratepayers, and potentially private capital — not by City of Huntington funds.

Early on in the Andrews proposal, the City of Huntington contributed about $75,000 for a preliminary feasibility study, which is eligible for reimbursement.

Q. Where can I learn more about the work, planning and community input that went into the proposal?

A. An extensive Preliminary Engineering Report, prepared by the Lochmueller Engineering Group, is available in the City’s Department of Engineering Services & Public Works. The office is located on the second floor of the City Building at 300 Cherry St.

Public meeting agendas and minutes (typically available following the subsequent meeting) can be found online at www.huntington.in.us/city/meetings.

Archived recordings of public hearings and City Council deliberations can be found on the City YouTube channel. The most relevant public hearing and meeting dates to look for are April 8, 2025, and April 29, 2025.

A summary of the proposal to address aging well fields and the need for a new South Water Plant is available here.

Q. I didn’t know about this until it already happened. Where can I find information like this?

A. The easiest way to stay engaged with city news and updates is to subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter. In addition, we maintain a news blog at www.huntington.in.us/city. Important public notices can also be found in publications such as the Indiana Plain Dealer (formerly Herald-Press).

Q. How much is a "base" monthly utilities bill? How much is a "typical" monthly bill?

A. Starting with your first full billing period after May 31, new Phase 1 utility rates will apply. Huntington is divided into three utility zones, each with its own meter-reading and due dates.

Here’s a breakdown of the new charges:

• Water Base Charge: $12.81 (covers up to 183 cubic feet)
  Additional usage: $0.0700 per cubic foot
• Sewer Base Charge: $12.07 (for standard 5/8”–3/4” meters)
  Plus $0.1177 per cubic foot
• Other Monthly Charges (per household):
• Hydrants: $9.09
• Trash: $12.29
• Recycling: $4.10

Note: Indiana sales tax applies only to the water portion of your bill.

• A typical base bill (active account with zero usage) totals about $50.36/month.
• A typical household using about 535 cubic feet (4,000 gallons) can expect a monthly bill of about:
• $134 currently
• $140 under Phase 1
• Friendly Reminder: Water, sewer, hydrants, trash and recycling are included in these totals.