Tulsa utility bills will rise an average of $5.82 per month starting in October, and the city is ending twice-a-week trash pickup.
The rate increases, approved unanimously by the Tulsa City Council on June 17 as part of Mayor Monroe Nichols' $1.227 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, will first appear on November bills. The hikes break down to 7% for water, 7% for stormwater, 4.7% for sewer, and 4% for refuse and recycling, according to the city council's budget approval. Customers enrolled in EMSAcare will not see a change for that service.
"It invests in the people, services, and infrastructure that will make Tulsa a safer, stronger, and more resilient city," Mayor Nichols said on April 23 when presenting the proposed budget to the council.
The increases follow last year's $4.71 average monthly bump and are projected to generate more than $18 million in new revenue, the Tulsa Flyer reported. By law, utility rate revenue can only fund pipe maintenance, treatment plants and other utility-specific projects.
The city council cited aging infrastructure and rising costs for materials, equipment and labor as reasons for the increases. A council FAQ noted that nearly a decade without water rate increases in the late 1990s and early 2000s shifted more of the financial burden onto future residents.
Trash pickup drops to once a week
The biggest service change hits the curb.
Twice-a-week trash collection ends in October, with all residential customers moving to once-a-week pickup. The city is also discontinuing extended backyard service.
Those cuts helped keep the refuse rate increase to 4% rather than a higher amount, according to the council FAQ. Other cost-saving measures included exiting wholesale and commercial green waste services and using a portion of the Tulsa Authority for the Recovery of Energy (TARE) fund balance.
Monthly cart rates are rising modestly: a 96-gallon cart goes from $24.33 to $25.20, a 64-gallon from $21.97 to $22.85 and a 32-gallon from $19.60 to $20.40. Backyard collection jumps to a flat $28 per month. An extra recycling cart, previously free, now costs $5 per month, according to the city's refuse page.
Extra refuse stickers increase from 50 cents to $2 each and will switch from orange to purple. Residents with leftover orange stickers will need to use four per bag.
Bill assistance program in development
Council Vice Chair Christian Bengel said on June 18 that work would continue on "utility assistance" in the coming months. The council has directed the Office of Financial Empowerment and Community Wealth to develop a Utility Assistance Program for residents who meet certain income requirements. No rollout date has been announced.
Residents struggling to pay can call 311 to set up a payment plan or call 211 for help with utilities, food and rent. The Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center offers free one-on-one financial counseling; appointments are available at goodwilltulsa.org/FEC or by calling 918-802-7279.
