WINDSOR MATTERS
Breaking Down Utility Rate Increases in 2026
Providing safe, reliable water, stormwater and wastewater services is one of the most important responsibilities of any municipality. To keep Windsor’s systems working the way they should, utility rates will increase beginning Feb. 1, with changes appearing on March bills. For the average single-family home, this is about a 26% increase. For example, a $100 bill would become about $126 on your monthly bill.
We understand that any increase matters to everyone. The sharp increases in 2026 are needed to fund two major projects that are required to continue delivering safe and dependable service.
Windsor Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) Upgrades
• The current facility is over 30 years old, at full capacity, and at the end of its service life.
• To protect public health and meet state and federal waterquality standards, the existing facility will be gradually decommissioned.
• The Town has made incremental upgrades in recent years, but the next phase is a significant financial lift, as construction costs have risen sharply worldwide:
» Five years ago: A 5 million gallon per day (MGD) facility was estimated at $50 million. Today, a slightly smaller 4.2MGD facility is estimated to cost nearly three times that amount.
Monthly Utility Bill for Average Family of Four 5,000 Gallons per Month
Rate Increases Over the Last Ten Years
This chart shows the monthly utility bill for a family of four, using an average of 5,000 gallons of water per month. Sewer fees have the highest increase, making up the bulk of increases overall. The sewer fund, which is an enterprise fund, must pay for the new treatment facility itself; Colorado law prohibits the use of general tax dollars to support these types of funds. Learn more about enterprise funds on the back of this page.
Unplanned 15th St. Water Line Replacement
• A major water line under 15th St. south of Main St. (CO 392) is aging and in need of replacement to keep water service reliable for customers in the area.
If you have questions or want help understanding your bill, please reach out—we’re here to help! Windsor is committed to keeping our water system strong, reliable and ready for the future.
How the Town Can Support You
Windsor offers several ways to help manage and lower your monthly bill:
• Find leaks or other problem spots with free indoor and outdoor water audits at windsorgov.com/WaterAudits.
• Tips to reduce water use, including leak checks and irrigation adjustments
• Contact our Utilities team with questions at utilities@windsorgov.com or by phone at 970-674-2400
windsorgov.com/Water.
What is an Enterprise Fund?
Windsor’s water, stormwater and wastewater services are funded through enterprise funds, not general taxes. An enterprise fund works like a business within the town: customers pay for the services they use, and those payments can only be used to run, maintain and improve the utility system.
Enterprise funds stem from Colorado’s 1992 TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) laws. Under TABOR, enterprises must be funded through the rates paid by the customers who use them—not through general tax dollars. That means:
• Your utility bill directly supports water, sewer and stormwater operations.
• Windsor residents who have a different water utility, such as the North Weld County Water District, are not affected.
• Funds cannot be shifted from unrelated town services.
• Current customers pay for the system they use today; future growth of the town pays for growth of the system.
To learn more abour Windsor's water utility, visit windsorgov.com/Water.
Streetlight LED Conversion Project
Earlier this year, the town finalized ownership of approximately 3,100 streetlights within Windsor. With ownership secured, Windsor is now launching the next phase: converting more than 1,100 of these fixtures to energy-efficient LED technology.
Main arterials will have brighter streetlights because they handle faster, heavier traffic and need higher visibility for safety. Residential streets, meanwhile, are dimmer to reduce light pollution, save energy and keep neighborhoods comfortable.
This investment is expected to significantly reduce maintenance needs and cut the town’s annual energy use by more than 500,000 kilowatt hours, saving taxpayer money in the long run.
Each converted light will also feature a new identification tag and QR code that links directly to the town’s SeeClickFix portal, making it easier to report outages and helping crews respond more efficiently.
For more information and questions regarding the program, visit windsorgov.com/Streetlights.
DON'T LET THE GRINCH STEAL YOUR GIFTS!
The holiday season often brings a surge in online shopping. The Windsor Police Department reminds residents to stay alert for package thefts, both during the holidays and year-round. Here are some helpful tips:
• Ask a trusted neighbor to collect packages if you're not home.
• Share any surveillance footage of package thefts in action.
• Request deliveries to your post office or a secure location.
• Call police regarding suspected package theft.
• Register your home surveillance cameras with the Windsor Police Department's Secure Streets program at windsorPD.com/Secure.
