Petition: Stop Utility Rate Hikes in Chanute

On August 11, 2025, the City Commission approved a $0.0095 per-kilowatt-hour increase in electric utility rates—another 6.5% increase—to fund new radios for the Police and Fire Departments and offset a 2% General Fund budget increase.

While we support our first responders, many families in Chanute are already overwhelmed by rising costs for housing, groceries, fuel, and utilities. Even modest hikes add significant strain—especially for working families, seniors, and low-income residents.

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the City Commission to:
    1.    Reconsider the recent utility rate increase and explore alternative funding options.
    2.    Pursue grants, federal funding, and other resources to cover necessary upgrades, instead of putting the burden solely on residents.
    3.    Commit to long-term fiscal solutions that prioritize affordability and transparency.

The larger issue is accountability. In 2023, the City eliminated property tax, claiming it was “money we don’t need.” Yet only months later, residents faced a 16% utility hike to cover that same lost revenue.

In 2024, the city received $140,000 in federal funding for police radios—but citizens question what this actually covered. 

And in 2025, another 6.5% utility increase—tied to a $2.2 million project—has been passed, without an itemized explanation of how these funds will be used.

We want to be clear: our commissioners are our neighbors. They pay the same bills we do and face the same struggles when costs keep rising. But much of this direction comes from the City Manager’s office, where utility bills are covered as part of compensation. It’s far easier to recommend increases “for the greater good” when you don’t personally feel the weight of those higher bills. This dynamic has left commissioners relying heavily on the manager’s recommendations—often without a long-term plan to bring sustainable relief to the community.

Where is the accountability? Why doesn’t Chanute employ a grant writer to aggressively pursue funding? Why are citizens footing the bill year after year while federal funds go unaccounted for?

We support our emergency personnel and their needs. As a community, we understand this is a federal mandate and not a request. But we also know there are better options—funding programs, grants, fundraising efforts, and even low-interest loans—that should be pursued before placing the weight of these costs on the backs of citizens.

We demand transparency, fiscal responsibility, and relief from constant utility hikes.