Gary Council Unanimously Passes Sanitary District Fee Ordinances

New wastewater treatment and stormwater fees approved despite concerns from landlords

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Gary Common Council unanimously approved two ordinances that will increase the city's wastewater treatment and stormwater fees. The wastewater fee hike will impact around 28 industrial and 1,800 commercial users, with the average commercial user seeing about a $15 increase per month. The stormwater fee increase is for infrastructure management projects, salaries, security, and maintenance. Additionally, the council discussed an ordinance that would place liens on rental properties for unpaid sanitary district bills, which has faced pushback from landlords.

Why it matters

The fee increases are necessary to fund substantial upgrades to the Gary Sanitary District's wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to cost around $155 million. The changes come after pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency. While the fee hikes will not impact residential customers, the potential liens on rental properties have raised concerns from landlords about being held responsible for tenants' unpaid bills.

The details

The wastewater fee increases will only impact non-residential users, affecting about 28 industrial and 1,800 commercial customers in Gary. The average commercial user, who uses between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of water per month, will see around a $15 increase in their monthly bill. The stormwater fee increase will fund infrastructure management projects, salaries, security, and maintenance for the sanitary district. Industrial buildings will pay $162 per month, while commercial plots with more than 19 units will pay $90 per month, and those between 4 and 19 units will pay $62 per month.

  • The Gary Common Council approved the ordinances at its Tuesday meeting on February 18, 2026.
  • Rates have not increased since 2001, and the upgrades to the Gary Sanitary District plant are expected to cost around $155 million.

The players

Gary Common Council

The legislative body of the city of Gary, Indiana that unanimously approved the sanitary district fee ordinances.

Ragen Hatcher

The executive director of the Gary Sanitary District, who was in Indianapolis during the council meeting for her work as a state representative.

Deidre Monroe

The Gary City Court Judge who gave an overview of the wastewater treatment ordinance in Hatcher's absence.

Brenda Scott Henry

The director of Gary's Office of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, who gave an overview of the stormwater ordinance in Hatcher's absence.

Darren Washington

The Gary Common Council Vice President who had a sanitary district-related ordinance that was sent back to committee for further discussion.

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What they’re saying

“Of course, that's not going to be done without the increase in fees. That's the first step, and the first step has been asked, pretty forcibly, from the (U.S.) Department of Justice as well as the (Environmental Protection Agency).”

— Deidre Monroe, Gary City Court Judge (Chicago Tribune)

“We have not had a rate increase in several years. It's not going to be tremendous, and it'll be on par with our neighboring places, and it's to benefit the city of Gary.”

— Deidre Monroe, Gary City Court Judge (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Darren Washington's ordinance that aims to ensure tenants are responsible for lien payments on unpaid sanitary district bills will be heard by the planning and development committee one more time before returning to the full council for final approval.

The takeaway

The fee increases approved by the Gary Common Council are necessary to fund critical upgrades to the city's aging wastewater treatment infrastructure, but the potential liens on rental properties have raised concerns from landlords about being held accountable for tenants' unpaid bills, underscoring the complex challenges cities face in balancing infrastructure needs with the impacts on residents and businesses.