ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Albany Utility Board voted unanimously to raise utility rates for fiscal year 2027.

The meeting opened with public comment. One mother urged board members to keep Albany families in mind as they make decisions.

“I’m a single mother doing the best that I can, but I can understand the weight and the burden on other parents as well. So, I just say that when y’all make these decisions, think about the whole community,” she said.

Rising costs, aging infrastructure

Board members discussed the rate hikes, saying they’re meant to help cover rising operating costs and fund major capital improvements. The approved increases affect solid waste, sewer, stormwater, and water services.

City Manager Terrell Jacobs pointed to aging infrastructure, saying Albany’s first sewer and water lines date back to 1892. He says the additional revenue will help replace about 25 miles of water line and upgrade parts of the stormwater conveyance system, noting Albany is prone to flooding.

“When citizens—or, you know—start complaining about it floods in my town, it floods, whatever, those are the critical things that we’ve got to increase those pipes or conveyance systems to take on now this new volume of water,” Jacobs said.

Just before the vote, Mayor Bo Dorough acknowledged the decision may frustrate some residents, but says delaying repairs could lead to bigger problems down the road.

“Remind the community that, you know, what happened in Jackson, Mississippi, or even worse, what happened in Flint, Michigan, was a result of people making easy decisions and deferring investment,” Dorough said.

City leaders say the changes will raise the average residential utility bill by about three percent overall.

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