Beaumont residents to see higher water bills starting next week [Video]

BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont residents may see a water rate increase next week after the city’s decision to write-off thousands of dollars in unpaid water bills for commercial businesses to help with the city’s budget.

The city is having a difficult time collecting water bills from some commercial businesses and leaders say the rate hike is to help battle inflation.

Beaumont’s Chief Financial Officer told 12News that any water bill over $1,000 is marked as “unlikely to be recovered.” 

Even after the city writes-off the unpaid water bills, collection efforts will continue.

City leaders say the main reason why they’re having a hard time collecting unpaid water bills is because when some businesses changed ownership, the previous owner left a big bill that the new …