Updated on August 7, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. with comment from Casey Brunke, Cape Girardeau Public Works Director
On the Aug. 5 ballot, Cape County residents voted in favor of a measure to improve the city’s water treatment and distribution systems while capping annual water rate increases at 15%, and only when necessary.
For a household using 5,000 gallons of water per month, the maximum increase would be $4.71 per month, according to Casey Brunke, Public Works Director for the City of Cape Girardeau.
“If one were to use 5,000 gallons of water a month—which we know many households in the City of Cape Girardeau do not—then a 15% increase would amount to $4.71,” Brunke said.
All utility payments will be used exclusively for the operation, maintenance, and capital improvements of the water utility.
“One of the first projects we’ll continue working on is the design of the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant expansion,” Brunke said. “That’s one of our biggest needs right now. We need to expand the plant to keep up with the amount of water our city uses daily.”
The city’s source water changed more than a decade ago, switching from river water to well water. The new source is more difficult to treat, which slows the treatment process. Additionally, many of the city’s water mains are aging and need replacement. Upgrading the distribution system is expected to reduce main breaks and lower the risk of boil water advisories.
“We’re almost at the point where we can’t meet our daily water production goals,” Brunke said. “We’ve already started the design process, which is lengthy. Hopefully, within the next year, the design and permitting will be complete, and we can begin construction. That phase could take 18 months to two years, so we’re aiming to have additional capacity within the next three years.”
Updated on August 5, 2025, at 9:51 p.m.
After the second time appearing on the city's ballot—this time with a different funding structure, the City of Cape Girardeau water infrastructure issue passes.
With all 14 precincts reporting, the unofficial ballot tally for the August 5, 2025, Special Election showed a total of 4,336 votes. 2,523 or 58 percent, said 'yes' to the newly proposed rate increase schedule, which amends the city charter to provide funding to pay for the many City of Cape Girardeau water infrastructure improvements over the next several years.
Of the 23,723 registered voters, 18 percent cast their ballot for the single issue at the polls.
Original story on July 10, 2025.
Cape Girardeau voters will head to the polls on August 5th, 2025, to decide on a key issue—whether to allow higher water rate increases to help fund improvements to the city’s water system.
Right now, the City Charter caps water, sewer, and solid waste fee hikes at 5 percent per year. That’s under Section 6.13, known as the Fee Limitation.
But city officials say that limit just isn’t cutting it. They argue it’s not enough to cover the costs of maintaining and upgrading the water system, especially when it comes to keeping up with demand and ensuring quality.
The proposed ballot measure would raise that cap to 15 percent per year, but only as needed. Supporters say it would give the city more flexibility to fund critical infrastructure projects, without automatically raising rates every year.
This isn’t the first time voters have seen a proposal like this. A similar measure was on the ballot back in November 2024, but it didn’t pass.
A yes vote this time around would amend the city charter, allowing the city council to set water, sewer, and solid waste fees by ordinance, based on what’s needed to keep the system running smoothly.
At issue is that rates are too low to qualify for infrastructure grant funding. The acceptable national standard Affordability Index (AI) for water is 1.0 percent. This means the average household using 5,000 gallons of water per month pays 1 percent of its income to pay the water bill. Various state and federal funding sources look at a city’s AI to determine if its residents are paying their part. The City’s current AI is 0.76, meaning rates are too low to qualify for state or federal grants to help with funding needs.
According to the City of Cape's calculations, the Charter amendment will slowly align rates with costs, without an increase over 15% in any one year—or typically $4.71 per month. Every year, as part of the budget process, the Council votes to establish utility rates for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Year 1 rate increase is planned to be 10% if passed. Residential would see a monthly increase of $1.47 to $5.58 per month, depending on usage. The 15% increase will continue for two years before reducing back to 5%.
There is an upcoming voter education event on July 14, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Shawnee Center, hosted by Ward 2 Representative Tameka Randle. City staff, officials, and volunteers will also be on hand to discuss the issue.
A virtual presentation about the city's water needs can be found here.
The vote is set for Tuesday, August 5th.
More information about the single ballot issue for the City of Cape Girardeau is available on the city’s website. Voting times, locations, and ballot language can be found on the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's website.
