A stormwater utility rate increase will begin on April 1 for the city of Wichita.
The base fee will increase by $1.00 per month in 2026, followed by a $0.15 annual increase beginning next year. That will help fund $1.5 million in additional drainage improvements and cover ongoing maintenance costs.
Council member Mike Hoheisel says he typically doesn't like rates increases, but feels it is necessary in this case.
The last stormwater rate adjustment was in April of 2017. This fee increase, which will show up on your water bill, will sustain the fund balance through at least 2044.
Meanwhile, the city's general fund performed better than expected in 2025.
The city says that performance was mostly due to non-recurring items like higher than expected earnings from interest rates, franchise fees and sales tax. Those excess funds totaled $8.8 million, so the city transferred $6.8 million into their stabilization reserve and kept the remainder in the general fund for a $2 million surplus.
City expenditures though grew by $20 million, largely due to increasing wage rates and public safety expenditures. Wages account for roughly 75% of general fund expenditures.
The city's budget is balanced through 2027 with deficits forecast beginning in 2028.