Special Called Oct. 13, 2026

At the City of Biloxi’s special-called meeting on October 13, 2026, officials discussed a proposed amendment to the city code governing water and sewer rates. Staff presented a Mississippi Rural Water rate study and cited state requirements that utility charges cover the cost of service, the city’s health-department audit, and a need to build reserves. The proposed rates were estimated to generate about $4.5–$5 million in additional annual revenue, bringing projected revenue to roughly $25 million. Staff said the water/sewer fund has about $1.3 million in unrestricted cash and that current expenses are exceeding revenues. The $3.80 HCUA fee would remain unchanged; estimated bill impacts varied by usage, with increases of about 30% for low-use customers, 50% for medium-use customers, and 17% for high-use customers.

The additional revenue would support day-to-day operations, reserves, grant matches, rehabilitation, and capital needs, including water and sewer work in Wool Market, Edgewater Estates, and the Sun-kissed area, as well as SCADA upgrades and water-system expansion. Officials said some projects and grant applications could not proceed without funding for local matches. Council members discussed the rate structure and requested an additional comparison of a 3,000-gallon threshold versus the proposed 2,000-gallon threshold. The council approved the agenda 7–0, but did not vote on the rate amendment; the discussion indicated a later vote would be required, with timing for implementation dependent on that vote.