GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Goldsboro residents may notice changes in their utility bills this month as the city begins billing customers under a new tiered water rate structure approved as part of the 2026–2027 budget.
The tiered rates took effect July 1 and are designed to provide some relief for residents who use less water, including those on fixed incomes, while also encouraging water conservation.
Under the new structure, residential customers who use 3,000 gallons of water or less per month will pay a lower water rate, saving approximately $2 per month on the water and sewer portion of their bills. City officials say about 60% of Goldsboro’s residential customers fall into that category.
For households using more than 3,000 gallons per month, water used above the 3,000-gallon threshold will be billed at a higher rate.
Despite the savings provided by the lower tier, most customers will still see an increase in their total utility bills because of other rate and fee adjustments.
Bills rendered after Aug. 1 include a 5% increase in water and sewer rates for all customers, along with a $1 increase in the recycling fee and a $1 increase in the solid waste fee. The basic service cost, which is the flat monthly fee paid by all water customers, is also increasing by 5%.
According to the city, the increases are necessary to address rising costs associated with treating water and wastewater and other inflationary pressures.
Residents who use 3,000 gallons or less each month can expect their total monthly utility bill to increase by approximately $1.15, even though they will see a decrease in the water and sewer usage portion of the bill under the tiered system.
The Goldsboro City Council has considered implementing tiered rates for some time and made the change a priority during development of the 2026–2027 budget. The city’s Finance Department made modifications to the existing billing system to accommodate the new rate structure.
“I appreciate the City Council working to balance the needs of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure and the citizens’ desire to keep water and sewer rates at reasonable levels, especially for those on a fixed income who are too often forced to make very difficult decisions,” City Manager Matt Livingston said.
Livingston said the new system also provides an incentive for conservation.
“This also helps us promote the conservation of clean drinking water, which is a finite resource and has become increasingly important during persistent drought conditions that we continue to experience,” Livingston said.
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