City of Reading, Michigan

City of Reading, Michigan Traditional Values, Progressive Spirits

>> NOTICE
08/26/2026

>> NOTICE

Due to a lack of actionable items and out of respect for everyone's time, the Planning Commission and TIFA Board meeting...
08/21/2026

Due to a lack of actionable items and out of respect for everyone's time, the Planning Commission and TIFA Board meetings scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026 have been cancelled.

08/17/2026

Chestnut Street Closure – Crosswalk Art Project
Please be advised: Chestnut Street will be closed to through traffic beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26, 2026, to allow for the painting of crosswalks by the Reading High School Art Department between E. Silver Street and Maple Street.
This community art project is being completed in coordination with the Reading Art Alliance and the City of Reading, and we are excited to see the students bring some creativity and color to our community!
Please use an alternate route during the closure and use caution around the project area.
We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while this project is completed, and a special thank you to everyone involved in making it happen!

Help Shape the Future of Recreation in the Reading Area!The City of Reading, Reading Township, Reading Community Schools...
07/28/2026

Help Shape the Future of Recreation in the Reading Area!

The City of Reading, Reading Township, Reading Community Schools, and our community recreation partners are working together to develop the Reading Area 2027–2031 Parks and Recreation Plan. This five-year plan will identify priorities for parks, trails, recreational facilities, programming, and future grant opportunities that will benefit our entire community.

Your feedback is essential! Please take a few minutes to complete our community survey and help guide future recreational investments and improvements throughout the Reading Area.

Take the survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68CHBWY

Every response helps us build a recreation plan that reflects the needs and priorities of our community. Thank you for helping shape the future of recreation in the Reading Area!

Clarification Regarding City Budgeting and Utility FundsThe City of Reading has become aware of misinformation circulati...
06/22/2026

Clarification Regarding City Budgeting and Utility Funds
The City of Reading has become aware of misinformation circulating regarding City finances, employee compensation, and the use of water and sewer funds. We believe it is important to provide accurate information to residents regarding how municipal budgeting works.
The City Manager, as well as other City employees, do not receive a percentage of water and sewer revenues as compensation. The City of Reading’s Salary Allocation Table is approved as part of the City's annual budget process. Compensation is not tied to utility revenues, collections, or profits.
Like many municipalities, the City allocates personnel costs among various funds, including the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Refuse Fund, Major & Local Street Funds and Equipment Fund. This is a standard governmental accounting practice and is required to ensure that each fund pays its fair share of the costs associated with operating that service.
For example, if an employee spends a portion of their work time performing duties related to the water or sewer system—such as utility billing, customer service, financial management, regulatory compliance, infrastructure planning, reporting, or system administration—a corresponding percentage of that employee's salary and benefits may be charged to the Water or Sewer Fund. The percentage is based on the estimated amount of time devoted to those functions and is applied to the employee's salary or wage amount.
This does not mean the employee receives additional compensation from those funds, nor does it mean they are paid a percentage of utility revenues. It simply means that the cost of providing utility-related services is allocated to the utility funds based on an employees salary or wage, rather than being borne entirely by property tax dollars through the General Fund. NO EMPLOYEE IS EVER PAID NOR EVER HAS BEEN PAID A PERCENTAGE OF ANY REVENUES.
This accounting method helps ensure that utility operations are funded by utility revenues and that taxpayers are not subsidizing services that directly benefit utility customers. These practices are reviewed annually through the budget process and are subject to an annual audit.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to clarify this information.
City of Reading Administration

THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITYThe City's responsibilities include:• Be transparent• Spend funds responsibly• Maintain essenti...
06/21/2026

THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY
The City's responsibilities include:
• Be transparent
• Spend funds responsibly
• Maintain essential services
• Protect public health
• Protect the environment
• Comply with State and Federal regulations
• Plan for future infrastructure needs
The goal is to provide reliable services today while ensuring future generations inherit a safe and sustainable system.
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THANK YOU
The City of Reading appreciates the opportunity to serve our residents and remains committed to providing accurate information, responsible financial management, and transparent communication regarding the City's finances, infrastructure needs, and the services provided to our community.

LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTSMichigan now has some of the most stringent lead service line regulations in t...
06/21/2026

LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Michigan now has some of the most stringent lead service line regulations in the country.

The City is required to:
• Inventory service lines
• Identify service line materials
• Notify residents
• Replace lead and certain galvanized service lines
• Maintain records
• Submit reports to the State
These requirements are mandated by State regulations and are not optional.
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WHAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME?

Today's utility systems face significantly more requirements than they did 20 years ago.

Examples include:
• Lead Service Line Inventories
• Lead Service Line Replacement
• Drinking Water Monitoring
• Cross Connection Control
• PFAS Monitoring
• Asset Management Planning
• Increased Reporting Requirements
• Greater State Oversight
Municipalities are being asked to do significantly more than they were in previous decades.
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WHAT YOUR UTILITY BILL PAYS FORUtility revenues support:• Water production and delivery• Sewer collection and transporta...
06/20/2026

WHAT YOUR UTILITY BILL PAYS FOR
Utility revenues support:

• Water production and delivery
• Sewer collection and transportation
• Lift station operations
• Lagoon operations
• Testing and monitoring
• Regulatory compliance
• Emergency repairs
• Equipment replacement
• Infrastructure improvements
• Debt payments for major utility projects
• Maintaining reserves for future emergencies and infrastructure replacement
Major utility projects are often financed over time to avoid requiring large one-time payments from residents.
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INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
The City has worked hard to improve infrastructure while minimizing direct costs to property owners.

Sidewalk Replacement Projects
Many communities charge property owners for sidewalk replacement through special assessments.
Reading has over the past few years completed sidewalk replacement projects without charging those costs directly back to adjacent property owners.
Infrastructure Improvements
The City continues to pursue grants, outside funding opportunities, and long-term planning whenever possible to reduce the burden on residents.
Our goal is to maintain and improve infrastructure while minimizing direct assessments whenever feasible.
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WHY ARE RATES INCREASING?Like households and businesses, the City has experienced increases in:• Electricity• Fuel• Equi...
06/20/2026

WHY ARE RATES INCREASING?
Like households and businesses, the City has experienced increases in:
• Electricity
• Fuel
• Equipment
• Replacement parts
• Contractor services
• Regulatory compliance costs
• Infrastructure maintenance expenses
The City must ensure that utility revenues remain sufficient to maintain safe and reliable services.
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ELECTRICITY COSTS AND UTILITY OPERATIONS

Electricity is a large operating expense within the Water and Sewer Funds.

Electricity powers:
Water System
• Wells
• Pumps
• Water Treatment Plant & Distribution equipment
• Monitoring systems
Sewer System
• Lift stations
• Lagoon equipment
• Monitoring systems
• Sampling operations
The City must operate these systems 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and cannot simply shut them down during periods of higher electrical costs.
Residents pay the same utility rate regardless of the time of day they use water. The City absorbs the operating costs necessary to provide continuous service.
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PROPOSED UTILITY RATE (WATER, SEWER, REFUSE) ADJUSTMENTTypical Residential Customer3/4" ServiceAverage 3,000 Gallons Per...
06/20/2026

PROPOSED UTILITY RATE (WATER, SEWER, REFUSE) ADJUSTMENT
Typical Residential Customer
3/4" Service
Average 3,000 Gallons Per Month Usage

Water Increase
Ready-to-Serve Charge: $2.65 per month
Usage Charge: from $3.90 per 1,000 gallons to $4.00 per 1,000 gallons
- Increase would be approximately $0.30 per month if customer uses 3,000 gallons per month*
Total Water Increase: approximately $2.95 per month*

Sewer Increase
Maintenance Charge: $2.40 per month
Usage Charge: from $2.60 per 1,000 gallons to $2.80 per 1,000 gallons; based on water usage
- Increase would be approximately $0.60 per month if customer uses 3,000 gallons per month*
Total Sewer Increase: approximately $3.00 per month*

Refuse – No Change

Combined Impact
Water Increase: $2.95*
Sewer Increase: $3.00*
Total Increase: $5.95 per month*
Annual Impact: Approximately $71.40*
Daily Impact: Approximately $0.20 per day*

*Based on the Typical (average) Residential Customer usage.
Usage rates are dependent upon actual usage, and will vary according to each customer’s usage.
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Address

113 S. Main Street
Reading, MI
49274

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+15172832604

Website

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