The Mahoning County Commissioners approved an increase in rates that will double the price per 1,000 gallons of water for 1,400 homes and businesses in Jackson and Milton Townships, as well as Craig Beach Village.

Starting July 1, the rates will increase from $5.25 per thousand gallons to to $10.50 by July 1, $11.34 by 2024, $12.25 in 2025, $13.23 by 2026 and $14.29 in 2027. This represents an 8 percent increase each year for the next five years. 

"In order to provide the proper operation, maintenance, replacement and debt service of the [water] system, the rate increase is necessary," said Pat Ginnetti, the county sanitary engineer, during a board meeting held June 7. 

The main reason the rates were increased is due to the amount of debt the water district is in. According to Tara Cioffi, director of administrative services for the Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer's Office, the water district has fallen approximately $5.5 million in debt.

In a recent preliminary 5-year water rate budget projection by the county and released April 26, the district needed to raise water rates over the next five years in order to keep the water district financially solvent.