JAMES CITY COUNTY — James City Service Authority has proposed a multi-year rate increase for both water and sewer.
JCSA is the water and wastewater collection provider for James City County.
As the largest public water utility in Virginia totally dependent on groundwater, JCSA is overseen by a Board of Directors appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. It is a legally separate entity from James City County and provides services to its primary service area between Toano and Grove, and to limited sections of York County and the City of Williamsburg.
Doug Powell, JCSA General Manager, presented the proposed rate increase during the FY2026 Proposed Budget Community Meeting held in April, explaining the authority is solely reliant on fees and charges paid by its approximately 60,000 customers for revenue and receives no share of any local or property taxes.
The proposed fiscal year 2026 rate change for fixed water is an additional $1.50 per month from $7.52 in FY 2025 to $9.02 in FY 2026. A similar rate increase is proposed for each year through FY 2030.
An increase in the water volume usage per household, based on a tier system, will also increase incrementally through FY 2030. The increase for FY 2026 for a tier 1 household will change from $4.20 to $4.45.
Water volume tiers are based on kilogallon consumption.
Proposed sewer rates are proposed to increase by $1.50 per year for each year through FY 2030, however, volume metric rates for sewer will remain unchanged until FY 2028.
Powell cited rising construction and material costs as the main reason for the increases.
“What does all this mean for the customer and customer’s bill? If approved the typical 5,000 gallons per month customer would see their bill increase in fiscal year ’26 from $50.65 to $55.11 — an increase of $4.46. The bill is expected to increase at a pretty similar amount over the five-year period,” said Powell.
He added, “The proposed increases — if they are approved — JCSA would still have the lowest combined rates in the region. While we still have relatively low rates, we do not take these proposed rate increases lightly and the board and staff believe that we have a responsibility to provide this service as inexpensively as possible but it does take resources to provide this critical service.”
