VIDEO | Slinger community alarmed at utility request for nearly 75% increase in water rate

The hearing, conducted via Zoom by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, centered on the Village of Slinger’s request for authority to adjust its water rates for the first time in a full conventional rate case since 2010.

Administrative Law Judge Michael Newark opened the session by explaining the process and the limits of the commission’s authority. The PSC regulates about 575 water utilities statewide and sets the only rates those utilities may charge.

The final decision in the Slinger case will be made by Andy Galvin, administrator of the Division of Water Utility Regulation and Analysis, based solely on the record created during the hearing and written comments submitted by March 6.

Village Administrator Margaret Wilber, sworn in under oath, confirmed that required notices were sent with customer bills. She acknowledged the size of the increase.

“We do truly regret the large increase that was determined to be necessary with this case,” Wilber said. “Unfortunately it’s the result of many years of not keeping up with costs and we are doing our best to resolve that and avoid this situation going forward.”

Click HERE to look at data cited in the meeting

KateLynn Harrigan, senior fiscal consultant with Ehlers, outlined the financial drivers. Since Slinger’s last conventional rate case in 2010, gross plant investment has increased by 104.1% and operating expenses have risen 61.42%. A wall construction project and advanced metering infrastructure are among the capital costs included, with roughly $3.6 million in 2025 capital expenses factored into the application.

Harrigan noted that while the overall revenue increase is about 60%, residential customers can see larger impacts due to cost-of-service allocations.

The utility also moved to shift a portion of public fire protection costs from the municipal levy to the water bill over a five-year period, a policy decision made at the local level. Newark emphasized that whether fire protection is funded through property taxes or water rates is a municipal choice under state statute.

Several residents expressed frustration that the increase was so steep after years without major adjustments.

Village Trustee Robert Neidinger said the board was “obviously horrified” when consultants initially projected a 50% increase, and “horrified” again when PSC calculations resulted in a higher figure. He urged the commission “to re-evaluate that and see if they can’t provide some relief to the customers and reduce it at least down to the rate increase that we had approved.”

Daniel Schmidtke, a resident and business owner, questioned why incremental increases were not pursued earlier. “If we would have just done this over the course of 15 years it wouldn’t be that bad,” he said. “But bottom line is that wasn’t done.” He added, “I want to know who’s responsible for this.”

Others echoed concerns about affordability.

Darla Kazakowski, who said she is on a fixed income, compared Slinger’s rates to surrounding communities and cited other recent local spending. “This 75% increase… literally, I watch my water bill and use what’s considered a lot less than what a normal household of two people uses,” she said, arguing that major projects should be prioritized carefully.

Steven Bukowiec, a father of two young children, called the increase “not an acceptable amount,” saying, “You can’t keep squeezing stuff out of people… None of our jobs are increasing with even inflation to cover all these taxes and these increases.”

Mike Glenn, a longtime business owner, pointed to rapid development in the village and questioned how the increase aligns with growth. “To hit us with a 75% increase in one year, nobody can handle that,” he said.

Heather Motisi said the increase felt “unsustainable” and called for accountability. “If this was coming for 15 years, you can’t just clobber us with it,” she said. “Somebody’s got to be held accountable and it can’t just be the citizens.”

Commission staff also addressed water quality concerns raised in written comments, clarifying that the PSC regulates rates, not water quality, which falls under the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Village officials said Slinger meets all DNR drinking water standards and noted that some recent capital projects, including iron filters, were undertaken to address hardness and comply with requirements.

The public comment period remains open through March 6. A written order will be issued after review of the hearing record and submitted materials, determining whether the requested rate adjustment is approved, modified or rejected.

For many residents on the call, however, the numbers felt less like columns in a spreadsheet and more like a tightening vise. The commission’s decision now rests on whether the math of infrastructure and regulation can coexist with the lived budgets of the people who turn on the tap.