Matt Larimer, July 27th, 2026

During the July 9th special meeting of the Terre Haute City Council, mayor Brandon Sakbun proposed a 10% sewer rate increase, which will take effect in 2030. Stormwater fees would include a $3 monthly charge for residents inside city limits, and a $10 for tier one commercial properties, $20 for tier two, and $30 for tier three.

The mayor, along with representatives from Bose, McKinney, and Evans an Indianapolis based law firm, and Baker Tilly an Indianapolis based consulting firm, presented details concerning the city’s Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to address sewer issues throughout the community.

Pictures of flooding throughout Terre Haute were shown at the start of the presentation, and the mayor explained that one goal of the LTCP was to reduce yearly sewer overflow events from 37 down to 7.

Sakbun explained that these actions are in response to a federal mandate from the EPA, which the city had fallen behind on, and his administration is trying to correct. He also emphasized that failure to follow the EPA schedule could result in fines up to $10,000 a day.

Updates on current progress were given, noting that phase one of the plan is complete, and work is being done on phase two which includes Terre Haute’s main lift station, the Park Avenue lift station, and New Margaret Avenue drainage infrastructure.

The mayor also described how the future rate increase would facilitate immediate financing for phase three of the plan through the use of a bond anticipation note or a general obligation bond.

According to the presentation phase three of the plan would include work on Locust Street, 4th Street, Chamberlain Road, the Park Avenue, Honey Creek Mall, and Glen North lift stations, as well as the installation of floatable control structures at Fairbanks Park.

Councilman Todd Nation questioned whether a future city council would be obligated to approve the rate increase if funding for these projects were contingent on future revenues.

Dennis Otten from Bose, Mckinney, and Evans explained that if a future council denied the rate increase, it would likely result in immediate litigation from the bond holders or trustees.

It is expected that the City Council will vote on the proposed rate increases during their August 6th meeting. The full LTCP presentation can be viewed here.