Bossier City Mayor Proposes Sewer Rate Increase
The proposed budget increase aims to address a multi-million dollar shortfall in the city sewer department.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Utilities
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Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler has proposed a new budget that includes significant hikes to sewer service rates and usage charges. The increases are intended to close a $4.7 million revenue shortfall facing the city sewer department.
Why it matters
Rising operational costs have outpaced revenues, leaving the current sewer rate structure insufficient to meet financial sustainability targets by 2027. The city has not adjusted these rates since 2013.
The proposal includes a 16% increase for the service base rate and a 29% hike in usage charges, which would cost households consuming 5,000 gallons of water monthly an extra $100 annually.
The players
Tommy Chandler
He is the Mayor of Bossier City who introduced the proposal to address the sewer department budget deficit.
EisnerAmper
This is a professional services firm that conducted the sewer rate study utilized by the city for the budget proposal.
Bossier City Council
This is the governing body for Bossier City responsible for reviewing and voting on the proposed budget and rate ordinances.
The details
The rate adjustments, based on a study by EisnerAmper, would replace the current deficit with a $1.1 million surplus. The City Council officially introduced the operating and capital budget package via ordinance to address these financial gaps.
Timeline
2013: The year of the last sewer rate increase.
September 2026: The month the city council learned of the department shortfall.
October 20, 2026: The date the budget package was officially introduced.
November 2026: The expected timing for the introduction of the rate increase ordinance.
2027: The target year for reaching financial sustainability.
Market Landscape
This proposal marks the first departure from the 2013 fee schedule in over a decade to correct a structural revenue deficit. The city is finally updating the fee structure to address modern inflationary pressures that have outpaced original utility revenue targets.
Average households using 5,000 gallons of water per month will see their annual sewer costs rise by $100 under the new structure. These changes represent a direct shift in household utility expenses for all city residents.
The takeaway
Maintaining aging infrastructure requires periodic rate adjustments to prevent long-term service degradation. Residents should review their monthly water usage to anticipate how the new percentage-based increases will affect their personal utility bills.
What happens next
The rate increase ordinance is expected to be introduced to the City Council in November 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local service updates, visit the Bossier City Utilities page.
Live Poll
Do you support increasing local utility rates to fund long-term infrastructure improvements in your area?
