Fort Wayne works board approves $196 million utilities budget

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Fort Wayne City Utilities will spend about $196 million in 2013 to run the department and maintain its water and sewer systems.

The spending plan, approved Wednesday in a joint meeting of the city Board of Public Works and Board of Stormwater Management, is an increase from the department's 2012 budget of $177 million.

The budget includes new revenue, as the average household's monthly water bill will increase from $17.25 to $21.10 to help the city enact a more aggressive plan to replace its aging water mains.

Matthew Wirtz, deputy director of engineering for City Utilities, said the department plans to replace about nine miles of water mains this year – less than the 12 miles that would amount to the recommended 1 percent of its system.

csheckler@news-sentinel.com