CAMPBELL — The city has entered into an agreement with Aqua Ohio that was the result of negotiations regarding water rates for the next several years. Those talks also produced rate increases for Aqua Ohio’s 24,000 Mahoning County customers.

During its regular meeting Wednesday evening, city council voted to give a second reading to an ordinance to adopt the plan.

Mayor George Levendis noted that talks took place July 29 between Aqua representatives and the leaders of Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville, Poland Village and New Middletown, as well as Springfield, Coitsville, Poland, Canfield and Boardman townships. The rate plan will cover all of Aqua Ohio’s customers in Mahoning County.

The four-year plan, effective Jan. 1, is to run through Dec. 31, 2029. The current rate agreement that was negotiated in 2021 expires Dec. 31.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulate Aqua’s water system.

Specifically, beginning Jan. 1, customers will see a 5% water rate increase per 1,000 gallons of water usage. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Jan. 1, 2028 and Jan. 1, 2029, the increases will be 5%, 5.25% and 5.25%, respectively, according to the plan.

When the current rate agreement expires at the end of this year, Aqua Ohio will have invested more than $33 million in capital improvements to the water system, and will have paid more than $11 million in property taxes, according to a statement the company released.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the first since council returned from summer recess, officials adopted an emergency resolution to place a five-year, 3.5-mill renewal levy on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

The measure would bring in about $340,000 annually for general operating expenses, Levendis said. Specifically, the money will be used to fund the police, fire, street and other departments.

Earlier this year, the Mahoning County Board of Elections took issue with certain language in the legislation and requested that wording be changed, the mayor said, noting that it had to be redone, then placed on the ballot.

Earlier this week, that request was sent in an email to city Law Director Lamprini G. Mathews to review.

Nevertheless, the levy will not mean a tax increase for residents, Levendis said, adding that failure to pass it likely would lead to certain departmental cuts for the city to maintain a balanced budget.